Remote Ischaemic Conditioning After Stroke 2 (ReCAST-2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Remote ischaemic Conditioning After Stroke Trial (ReCAST-2): a pilot randomised controlled phase II trial evaluating remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) after hyperacute stroke 2
IRAS ID
197026
Contact name
Tim England
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Stroke has an enormous impact on both individual and society. Novel treatments are required to relieve this burden and remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) is one such approach. RIC means briefly interrupting the blood supply to an area (ie the arm) distant from an organ you are trying to protect (ie the brain). Experiments in animals have shown RIC to protect the brain from injury caused by stroke. In humans, RIC could be achieved by inflating a blood pressure cuff on the arm several times very soon after a stroke. The mechanisms of protection are unclear but may be due enhancing the body’s ability to protect itself by altering the blood flow to the brain or by reducing the harmful effects of inflammation. RIC is already used during cardiac surgery and it may help protect the heart after a heart attack. We plan to conduct a pilot clinical trial assessing the feasibility of RIC patients after stroke. The results will inform the design of future trials of a potential intervention is that is pragmatic, non-invasive and simple to administer.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0066
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion