Vascular Injury and repair in children with chronic infection

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Vascular Injury and repair in children with chronic infection

• IRAS ID

  205265

• Contact name

  Nigel Klein

• Contact email

  n.klein@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Kingston University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause or morbidity and mortality in the UK. Atherosclerosis is the process of stiffening, swelling and damage to blood vessel (vascular) walls that occurs anywhere in the body starting at birth and continuing with age and is considered an inflammatory disease. One of the initial steps in the progression of this disease is damage to the vascular lining called the endothelium. Endothelial health balances between the damage it receives and its capability of repair. One of the primary mechanisms by which atherosclerosis progresses is an infiltration of white blood cells into the endothelium. Although high cardiovascular risks such as; smoking, body mass index, age and lack of exercise can promote endothelial damage, one of the best predictors of heart attacks and cerebrovascular disease is inflammation. High levels of white blood cells found with inflammation infiltrate into the damaged endothelial lining or promote endothelial damage.
  
  During childhood, while vascular disease is rare, chronic infection, for example; HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause persistent low-level of inflammation, a known risk factor for coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis in adults. This project aims to establish the role of chronic infection in causing vascular injury in childhood. Using HIV as a model of chronic infection, we will examine its impact on the elasticity of blood vessels and markers of potential endothelial injury. This will be compared to children with conditions not associated with persistent infection and/or inflammation.

• REC name

  London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/LO/0159

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Mar 2018

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion