StroBE-LVO
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Stroke Biomarker Evaluation for Large Vessel Occlusion (StroBE-LVO)
IRAS ID
308038
Contact name
Chris Price
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN60633358
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Making a diagnosis of a stroke can be difficult. Some people suffer symptoms which suggest a stroke, however, assessments and tests at hospital confirm a different diagnosis such a migraine or infection. When a stroke does occur, the treatment needed is different dependent on the type of stroke. For the most serious type of stroke caused by a blood clot blocking a large artery (called ‘large vessel occlusion stroke’ (‘LVO’)), an urgent operation improves the chance of recovery. However, this operation is very specialised and only available in certain regional hospitals.
Currently, there are no specific tests that can be used in emergency ambulances to help make a confident diagnosis of stroke or to tell which type of treatment may be required. Consequently, patients with LVO stroke typically have to be transferred to a specialised regional hospital after tests which confirm this diagnosis at their local hospital. This results in delays to the emergency operation which can decreases the chance of recovery.
This research project will investigate whether levels of two natural blood chemicals called ‘d-dimer’ and ‘purine’ may help to tell if a person has LVO stroke. Patients taking part in the study will undergo the blood tests and all routine tests which would be conducted to investigate a possible stroke. The results of the d-dimer and purine levels will be compared with the routine tests to determine if these blood levels are useful.
Whilst the most important future use for the blood tests is in emergency ambulances, this project will be conducted with patients immediately after arrival at hospital to obtain early data about their potential value. If the results of this study are encouraging, further research will be carried out measuring levels when patients are in emergency ambulances.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0013
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion