Imaging of digital arteries in patients with systemic sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Imaging of digital arteries in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound
IRAS ID
154699
Contact name
Ariane Herrick
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a connective tissue disease that can affect the skin, internal organs and blood vessels of the body. One of the most characteristic features of this disease is Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), causing finger colour changes (white/blue/red) and pain on exposure to cold. RP is experienced by over 90% of patients with SSc, of whom about 50% will go on to develop digital ulcers. The severity of RP and any subsequent ulceration is due to damage of the blood vessels, occurring as a result of having SSc. This is thought to involve both the microvasculature (small blood vessels) and digital arteries (larger blood vessels) supplying the fingers, resulting in a reduced blood flow to the area. Microvascular changes in patients with SSc have previously been well demonstrated using a technique called nailfold capillaroscopy. We now wish to examine any digital artery changes using three-dimensional ultrasound.
Current medications for RP and digital ulceration are far from ideal and new treatment options are badly needed. However, clinical trials of potential new drugs are being hampered by the lack of subjective end points. Digital ulceration is currently being used to assess disease progression and treatment response. However, this is notoriously difficult to quantify, making it hard to determine whether any proposed new treatments are effective.
In this pilot study, we will be trying to detect any thickening of the digital artery walls (vascular damage) in patients with SSc when compared to healthy controls. As RP and digital ulceration occur as a consequence of SSc-related digital vascular damage; if we can accurately measure this using 3-dimensional ultrasound, it may provide us with a more reliable endpoint in future clinical trials.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0279
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion