Optical Coherence Tomography and blood biomarkers in IIH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Study Using OCT and Blood Tests to Help Predict Which Patients with IIH May Need Urgent Surgical Intervention
IRAS ID
363413
Contact name
Alexandra Sinclair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterised by raised intracranial pressure in the absence of secondary causes. IIH disproportionately affects women of reproductive age and its association with obesity is well established. IIH is increasingly prevalent, mirroring worldwide obesity rates. Most patients with IIH are managed medically. Prompt escalation to surgical intervention such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting or venous sinus stenting (VSS) is required in patients with sight-threatening papilloedema to prevent permanent visual impairment. There is no biomarker to identify sight-threatening papilloedema requiring urgent surgical intervention. Differences in clinical judgement vary internationally leading to variability in decision making and unstandardised patient care.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and blood biomarkers which identify sight-threatening papilloedema requiring urgent surgical intervention are being investigated in ongoing research (IIH:Intervention ISRCTN57142415). This study aims to validate the accuracy of these biomarkers in a real-world population.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
26/NS/0010
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion