BRB in MSS3 version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Retinal vessel leakage in cerebral small vessel disease: a sub-study of the Mild Stroke Study 3
IRAS ID
338531
Contact name
Joanna Wardlaw
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a common cause of stroke and dementia. The molecular pathogenesis is unclear, limiting new therapies. Breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is characteristic and may damage brain tissue. However, specialist MRI scans to measure BBB breakdown are expensive and time-consuming.
In contrast, measuring leakage from retinal blood vessels is relatively simple. The blood-retina barrier is very similar to the BBB, and SVD is likely to damage retinal and brain blood vessels in the same way. If this is the case, then retinal angiography could be used to study SVD pathogenesis and measure the effect of new treatments with much greater resolution and lower cost than MRI.We aim to discover if retinal vessel leakage occurs people with SVD, and if so, whether the severity of retinal vessel leakage is associated with clinical features of SVD, including MRI of the brain.
We will do this by studying a sample from a well-established cohort of people with SVD – the Mild Stroke Study 3 (MSS3) [1]. Our results will help design studies to validate retinal vessel leakage as a surrogate endpoint for clinical trials
1) https://doi.org/10.1177/2396987320929617
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
24/WS/0030
Date of REC Opinion
11 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion