Contrast enhanced ultrasound to detect intraplaque neovascularisation

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A study to assess the ability of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to reproducibly detect intraplaque neovascularisation, and to determine whether CEUS can distinguish between recently symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques

• IRAS ID

  3620

• Contact name

  David Owen

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College

• Eudract number

  2008-005900-25

• ISRCTN Number

  N/A

• Research summary

  Atherosclerotic plaques grow within the walls of arteries. The majority of plaques do not cause symptoms, but some can suddenly rupture. Most heart attacks, and many stokes, result from plaque rupture. There are many features of the plaque which determine whether it is likely to be stable or vulnerable to rupture. If these features could be identified in living patients, they could be used to make predictions about plaque stability which would help clinicians risk stratify patients. One feature of a vulnerable plaque is the presence of tiny vessels INSIDE the plaque. Although atherosclerotic plaques grow within the artery??s wall, they still require their own separate blood supply. As plaques grow, small blood vessels can grow inside them to supply blood to these plaques. Studies have shown that the more blood vessels are present inside a plaque, the more likely it is to rupture. Therefore, measuring the amount of blood vessels in plaques within living patients may provide a means of assessing that patient??s risk. This study uses ??contrast enhanced ultrasound? (CEUS), a new technique, to measure new blood vessel growth within the plaque. In Part A, patients about to undergo an operation to remove plaque from their carotid (neck) artery will be scanned with CEUS prior to their operation. The CEUS results will be compared to the degree of new vessel formation determined by microscopic examination after the operation to determine the accuracy of CEUS in measuring blood vessel formation. In Part B, patients with vulnerable carotid plaques (ie which have recently caused symptoms), and patients with stable carotid plaques (ie which have not caused symptoms) will be scanned to determine if CEUS is able to detect a difference between the two types of plaque. The research is funded by Imperial College. Patients will be recruited from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

• REC name

  London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  08/H0706/106

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Oct 2008

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion