Effect of spirometry with reversibility testing on the vasculature
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the effect of spirometry with reversibility testing on measures of vascular structure and function in healthy volunteers
IRAS ID
210693
Contact name
Emma H Baker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Aim.
To develop non-invasive tests for measuring blood vessel structure and function that allows repeatable and reliable measurement of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity) and skin surface capillary counting (capillaroscopy) in people who have recently had breathing tests performed with inhalers (spirometry with reversibility testing)Background.
There is a strong association between non-invasive measures of vascular structure and function and risk of cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness (as measured by aortic pulse wave velocity) and systemic microvascular structure (as measured by skin capillary density) are established examples of such techniques. Studies using these techniques have been conducted in end-stage renal disease, hypertensive and elderly patients.Increasingly these techniques have been applied to assess vascular risk in other patient groups, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many factors can affect the reliability and reproducibility of these tests. Whilst the effect of cardiovascular drugs, such as antihypertensives, is well-documented, there is relatively little data on the effect of drugs used in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease. This is an important gap in our knowledge as we begin to apply these tests to assess vascular risk in patients with chronic lung diseases, such as COPD.
Design and methods.
Twenty-four healthy volunteers will be recruited. Participants will undergo assessment of spirometry with reversibility, measuring arterial stiffness (as measured by pulse wave velocity) and microvasculature (as measured by skin capillary density in dorsum of middle finger) pre- and post-spirometry with reversibility - at visit 1 using salbutamol as the bronchodilator, and at visit 2 using ipratoprium. A minimum 6-hour interval between visits is required to avoid residual effects of previous spirometry testing impacting on results.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0336
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion