Pilot study of cardiac abnormalities in ANCA associated vasculitis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study Title: ANCA-associated Vasculitis and the Heart - establishing the prevalence, predictors, outcomes, and optimal screening strategy for heart disease by multimodality imaging characterisation (AVAH study)
IRAS ID
195128
Contact name
Stephen Kelleher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS foundation trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cardiovascular disease is emerging as a major determinant of outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which is comprised of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA – previously Wegener’s Disease) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Cardiovascular disease now causes around 25% of all deaths in AAV. In spite of this, it is not routine practice to review patients with AAV for such involvement. As a result of this, cardiovascular involvement may only be diagnosed at a late stage, when it is either irreversible or has caused severe disability or even death. This is a particular concern since there is an apparent therapeutic window of opportunity wherein cardiovascular involvement may be reduced through treatment. This treatment directly targets the inflammatory process, preventing irreversible cardiovascular damage. Early detection of cardiovascular disease therefore lends the promise of improving outcomes. To this end we would like undertake a suite of investigations on our GPA and MPA patients including 1) Treadmill Cardiac Exercise stress testing to detect compromise of the heart muscle, 2) Routine blood tests including cholesterol levels and heart muscle enzyme levels, 3) Continuous ambulatory heart rhythm monitoring for 24 hours while patient is an outpatient, 4) cardiac ultrasound to assess heart muscle function 5) magnetic resonance imaging of their hearts and 6) routine assessment of patients vasculitis disease activity. Patients health outcomes will be followed for 5 years and we would like to cross reference data from this study with future studies as well.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0327
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion