PET/MR in Post Stroke Cardiac Inflammation Study

Launched by LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OR LAWSON RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ST. JOSEPH'S · Mar 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The PET/MR in Post Stroke Cardiac Inflammation Study is a clinical trial aimed at understanding how a stroke can lead to inflammation in the heart, which may increase the risk of heart problems in the weeks following a stroke. Researchers will use advanced imaging techniques called PET and MRI to look for signs of heart inflammation in stroke patients within 15 days of their stroke. They also want to see if this inflammation continues to be a problem three months later. The study will compare the results of stroke patients with those of individuals who have not had a stroke, but are similar in age and gender.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and have had an acute ischemic stroke (a type of stroke caused by a blockage in the blood vessels supplying the brain). They should be treated at the University Hospital or the Stroke Prevention Clinic and be willing to give their consent to participate. However, individuals with certain heart conditions, recent infections, or those who have had other strokes or surgeries recently will not be included. If you decide to participate, you can expect to undergo imaging tests that will help researchers learn more about the relationship between stroke and heart inflammation, which could lead to better care for stroke patients in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥18 years willing to cons Age ≥18 years willing to consent
• • Patients with acute ischemic stroke in the right or left MCA territory, admitted to University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) or evaluated at LHSC's Urgent TIA and Stroke Prevention Clinic. Acute ischemic stroke is defined as acute onset focal symptoms matching an acute brain infarct documented on a Head CT or on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) MRI of the brain showing restricted diffusion.
• • Willing to consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of known heart disease defined as known atrial fibrillation, prior myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, heart failure, prior cardiovascular surgery or percutaneous intervention
• • Stroke in the previous 3 months before the qualifying stroke.
• • High-sensitivity Troponin-T (HS-TnT) \>100 ng/L on routine standard of care acute stroke bloodwork.
• • Clinically or neurologically unstable patients as per the treating physician.
• • Ongoing infection or recent infection within the previous 3 months.
• • Surgery within 3 months before the stroke.
• • Concurrent inflammatory conditions (connective tissue diseases, rheumatological disease, etc.) or use of anti-inflammatory medications.
• • Contraindications to the use of gadolinium (e.g., pregnancy, stage IV renal insufficiency)
• • Subjects will be excluded if they fail the St. Joseph's Health Care standard MRI screening questionnaire. Briefly, this questionnaire screens for: Heart Pacemakers / Wires, Aneurysm Clips, Shunt / Surgical Clips, Shrapnel / Bullets, Dentures or Metal braces, Intra-Uterine Device, Heart Valves, Ear Implants, Prostheses, Medication Patches (Nicoderm, Habitrol, Transderm-Nitro, etc.), Claustrophobia, History of a head or eye injury involving metal fragments. Patients with an eGFR \< 40 will be excluded, as impaired renal function places the patient at a higher risk for a rare reaction to Gd-DTPA, the MRI contrast agent.