Biological Markers for Detecting Syncope and Presyncope
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biological Markers for Detecting Syncope and Presyncope
IRAS ID
308806
Contact name
Daniel Keene
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
Over 25% of people experience fainting. A third suffer frequent disabling episodes causing physical injury, and psychological morbidity. In some, the sole cause is slow heart rates which can be remedied with a pacemaker. However, in over half of patients, the main cause is a fall in blood pressure caused by redistribution of blood within the body. \n \nWe believe, when redistribution of blood occurs, causing fainting, a large volume of blood leaves the systemic circulation and moves into abdominal (splanchnic) blood vessels. \n\nThe ability to accurately detect pooling of blood in the splanchnic circulation will allow us to identify the underlying mechanism for fainting in patients, and to also begin developing a diagnostic sensor which could potentially detect the changes occurring prior to fainting. \n\nIn the future if splanchnic pooling is seen to be the cause of fainting episodes, and if impending fainting can also be detected through our sensor, this could be used in the future to trigger a therapeutic intervention within a future treatment device. \n\nWe will test whether:\nSplanchnic pooling can be detected using external sensors that could be built into a diagnostic device. \n\nWe will record measurements through external sensors in patients undergoing: \na.\tpostural blood pressure measurements\nb.\ttilt-table testing \n \nAll protocols will be conducted at a tertiary cardiology centre. The study will run over six months. \n\nOur results should lead to funding to develop this novel approach as a diagnostic pathway for thousands of patients whose lives are severely limited by unpredictable fainting. \n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SW/0018
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion