Cap4COV
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cap4COV: Nailfold capillaroscopy to image the microvasculature in Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)
IRAS ID
289557
Contact name
Andrea Murray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 17 days
Research summary
We are investigating a non-invasive imaging technique to visualise the small blood vessels (microvasculature) in the fingers of patients with Covid-19. The technique, known as nailfold capillaroscopy (NC), is used to visualise these vessels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease characterised by skin thickening, scarring and reduced blood flow that affects around 10,000 people in the UK. NC reveals blood vessel abnormalities characteristic of SSc, and is a key component of the 2013 diagnostic criteria for SSc. It has become clear over the past few months that COVID 19 has several similarities with SSc, including lung fibrosis (scarring) and changes to the blood flow and blood vessel structure due to increased blood viscosity and increased vessel leakiness. Changes (including haemorrhages and ‘abnormal and dilated capillaries’) have been observed in both intensive care unit (ICU) patients and paediatric patients and we believe that NC may provide important information regarding pathophysiology and potentially prognostic information for those diagnosed with COVID 19. We have already developed specialised hardware and software for acquiring and automatically analysing high-quality NC images in a research setting. The aim of this project is to apply NC to those who have or have had COVID 19 in three groups: those with acute COVID on the ICU ward, those who have had COVID 19 and are still struggling with chronic symptoms (‘long’ COVID 19) and those who have had a positive diagnosis of COVID 19 but were asymptomatic. This study will be carried out at Salford Royal Hospital using images of the capillaries near the fingernails in 120 participants split across the three cohorts.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0246
Date of REC Opinion
13 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion