Red cell membrane cholesterol: a marker of unstable carotid plaque?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Red cell membrane cholesterol: a novel biomarker of unstable carotid plaque? (pilot study)
IRAS ID
145513
Contact name
Jessica Redgrave
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Narrowing (stenosis) of the main artery in the neck (carotid artery) occurs when there is a build-up of fatty tissue (plaque) in the artery wall. Sometimes bleeding occurs into these plaques and this releases red cells which contain high levels of cholesterol (a type of fat) in their membranes. This can make the plaque “unstable” leading it to burst forming a blood clot which can then block a smaller artery downstream causing a stroke. In studies of patients with narrowed arteries in the heart, a high red cell membrane cholesterol (RCMC) level is linked with a higher risk of unstable plaque leading to a heart attack. Since the processes involved in plaque formation in the carotid arteries in the neck are similar to those in the coronary arteries, RCMC may also be linked with unstable plaque (and hence a stroke) in patients with carotid stenosis.
In Step 1 of this project, we will use anonymous blood samples from the haematology laboratory (left-over from clinical testing) to find an accurate way of measuring RCMC. In Step 2, we will collect blood from 20 patients with a stroke/TIA and compare RCMC with more routine tests of cholesterol. In Step 3, we will compare the average fasting blood RCMC levels in 12 patients with a stroke/TIA due to carotid stenosis (symptomatic carotid stenosis) and 12 patients with an asymptomatic carotid stenosis i.e. narrowed carotid artery that has not led to a stroke/TIA. In Step 4, we will use a microscope to look at carotid plaques from 5 patients in Step 3, to see how the blood RCMC level compares with red cell membrane deposition in the plaque, and other “unstable” features of the plaque.
Our findings will help us to decide whether to perform this research in a larger number of patients.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/0147
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion