Aortic aneurysms and Air Pollution (AAA-CLOUD study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into the relationship between Aortic Aneurysmal disease and air pollution using intraoperative samples from live donors and cadaveric organ donors. (AAA-CLOUD study)
IRAS ID
309106
Contact name
Matthew Bown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
An aneurysm occurs when the wall of a blood vessel weakens and balloons out. This can occur in many of the arteries of the body including the aorta. The ballooning of the aorta makes the wall much weaker and more likely to rupture, this most commonly occurs in the section of the aorta that passes through the abdomen. These are known as abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Ruptures are catastrophic events where 4 out of 5 people with a rupture will die. There is currently no treatment for AAAs that can prevent them developing or expanding in size, we can however offer major surgery when the aneurysm reaches a certain size. The exact cause for AAAs and factors that lead to expansion and rupture of AAAs are not known, although several risk factors are known. Air pollution is implicated in development and severity of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which accounts for more than half of the deaths attributed to air pollution. The main aim of this study is to understand the relationship between air pollution and aortic aneurysms. The study will involve the collection of samples of the aortic wall. During open surgical repair of the aorta, the aneurysm is cut open and the wall of the aneurysm is usually trimmed off and closed over a fabric graft. When a kidney transplant occurs the donated kidney normally contains a section of the aorta that the surgeon can use to fashion a new joint. Often excess ‘healthy’ aorta is trimmed off here as well and discarded. We hope to keep these two excess sections of aorta that are normally disposed of and compare them in the lab, looking for evidence of air pollutants.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0019
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion