Covid-19 Adaptive Immune Response in Stroke (CAIRS) v1 [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How does stroke influence the adaptive immune reponse to COVID-19
IRAS ID
284405
Contact name
Fergus Doubal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 20 days
Research summary
Stroke causes changes to the immune system which are associated with an increased risk of infection. Infection after stroke is linked to increases in mortality, length of hospital stay, disability and cost of care. Recent studies have shown changes to the immune system that increase infection risk after stroke (reduced numbers of lymphocytes, atrophy of spleen, increased levels of inflammatory cytokines) are very similar to immune system changes that are associated with more severe COVID-19 disease. Therefore, stroke patients have a unique combination of risk factors that may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 and result in an increased COVID-19 disease severity.
This study will investigate if stroke patients are able to make an efficient immune response to COVID-19.
The adaptive immune response is important for long-term protection against disease. The adaptive immune response to COVID-19 will be measured in acute ischemic stroke patients and compared to patients with COVID-19 without stroke. Patients ≥ 50 years old with moderate-severe ischemic stroke (NIHSS ≥ 8) who experience symptoms and test positive for COVID-19 after presentation with stroke will be recruited from the acute stroke ward of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI). Blood samples (total 8 ml) will be taken at ≤ 5 days and 10-14 days after COVID-19 symptom onset. The magnitude and efficiency of the adaptive immune response to COVID-19 will be measured and compared to samples from non-stroke COVID-19 patients obtained from patients co-enrolled from ongoing COVID-19 research studies at the University of Edinburgh/ Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and excess blood sample from other suitable COVID-19 studies..
Understanding if the adaptive immune response to COVID-19 is altered in stroke patients will provide information required to influence clinical policy and stroke patient management to reduce the impact of COVID-19 as a complication of stroke recovery. This will inform stroke patient treatment and care.REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
20/SS/0107
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion