Association of plasma XIIa with risk of stroke

Damage to the endothelium (the blood vessel lining) is important in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and complications, such as strokes. The research team have developed a test that might detect this process early on.

Factor XII is a molecule which becomes activated and is bound by another receptor molecule in blood vessels, triggering the process that causes blood clots to form - and hence strokes. Pilot studies carried out by the research team show that measurement of the activated molecule and the receptor in the blood of patients who have had a TIA ("mini-stroke") might well identify those patients at high risk of major stroke.

The aim of this project is to study a large sample of patients to reliably determine whether we can predict further events over and above existing clinical risk scores. If so, the test could be a useful predictor in routine clinical practice, and would identify the activated Factor XII and the receptor molecule as targets for novel treatments to prevent stroke.

Classification:
Prevention, Epidemiology

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