Study of ICAD Following Stroke Using 7T MRI

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    7T MRI Vessel Wall Imaging of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerosis in Acute Stroke: A Clinical Validation and Assessment of Feasibility Study

  • IRAS ID

    352796

  • Contact name

    Keith Muir

  • Contact email

    keith.muir@glasgow.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, days

  • Research summary

    The study looks at intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), a condition where blood vessels in the brain become narrowed due to a build-up of cholesterol plaques. ICAD is a common cause of stroke and stroke reoccurrence. The study aims to understand how the instability of ICAD plaques affects stroke reccurrence using an MRI scanner with a strong magnetic field (7T).

    The study will focus on patients who recently had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) where ICAD has been identified as a potential cause, based on routine scan findings.

    The strong magnetic field of the 7T MRI scanner allows a higher level of detail to be obtained from scans. Understanding ICAD involves looking at the walls of the small blood vessels that supply the brain - structures that are difficult or impossible to see in detail with routine scanners. We hope to look for features that might indicate a higher risk of subsequent stroke, such as features that make atherosclerotic plaques unstable, or whether blood flow is restricted. We will therefore check electronic health records 6 months after the first scans to determine whether any further strokes have occurred.
    The study aims to recruit 20 patients who meet the inclusion criteria above. They will undergo a 7T MRI scan, and their medical records will be checked 6 months post-initial stroke to see if they've had another stroke.

  • REC name

    West of Scotland REC 5

  • REC reference

    25/WS/0081

  • Date of REC Opinion

    23 Jun 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion