ALFA-COVID [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing Lung Fibroblast Activation after COVID-19\n
IRAS ID
283524
Contact name
Ashley Groves
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In some patient’s infection with covid19 causing an immune response that causes lung damage similar to that found in diffuse lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis.\n\nThe mechanism of the damage is thought to be that in genetically predisposed individuals there is an increased response to inflammation, causing fibroblasts from the epithelial cells of the lining of the lungs to induce collagen deposition. The collagen in the lungs is what causes the reduction in lung volumes and requires some people to need mechanical ventilation.\n\nThe increased fibroblast activation, and collagen deposition also results in increased glucose metabolism by the lungs, as well as increased blood flow and structural changes such as those seen in diffuse lung disease.\n\nIn order to understand the progression of covid19, as well as the factors that affect its severity we would like to perform a preliminary investigation of the pattern of the uptake of drugs called radiotracers (such as given for PET/CT scans) in patients with COVID19 and a diffuse lung disease called IPF. One of the tracers is called Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor, which has been shown to image cancer related fibroblasts due to the increased cell growth which occurs in cancer, and Fluorodeoxyglucose which shows the increase in glucose metabolism which occurs as a result of increased cell metabolism. \n\nThe people that take part will be in one of three groups, those that came to A&E and tested positive for COVID19, but were not hospitalised, those that were hospitalised and required help with breathing, and patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (this will happen a little while in future). All recruits to the study will need to come to the hospital for two PET/CT scans, one with each tracer.\n\n\n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0095
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion