Neuroimmunology 1.4
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of autoimmunity and its effects on the brain 1.4
IRAS ID
223833
Contact name
Michael S Zandi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLH
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2017/08/31, UCL Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Inflammation in the body and in the brain is relevant to diseases of the brain, including autoimmune encephalitis but also in dementias including Alzheimer disease. Antibodies to brain proteins including receptors (e.g. the NMDA receptor) can cause symptoms that range from seizures, memory problems, abnormal movements but also hallucinations and delusions that resemble schizophrenia and dementia. New treatments that focus on the immune system may play an important role not only in the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis and related conditions, but also in dementias, which have so far been untreatable. The study aims to characterise the immune cells in the blood from patients with autoimmune encephalitis, some known to have antibodies to specific proteins (e.g. NMDAR encephalitis patients), some with no known antibody, and in other neurological disorders in which the immune system may play an important role. We will ask to examine previously donated blood and (where done) spinal fluid for disease markers, and in some subjects take a further blood sample (a small cupful), on up to three occasions in a year at least 1 month apart, from subjects who are otherwise having routine clinical care in neurological services at our hospital. We will also analyse other clinical and laboratory results e.g spinal fluid samples, brain imaging, clinical information, to look for markers of ongoing inflammation and brain damage. These markers will help discover disease processes, design treatment trials in these diseases, and potentially have a direct impact on clinical decision making in the near future for patients with encephalitis. We will take blood from healthy control participants and disease control participants to allow analysis of the markers.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0494
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion