Welcome to the DNA Resource for Lacunar Stroke Website.
Thank you for your interest in this study.
What is this study about?
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the highest cause of adult disability in the UK. About half of the risk of stroke is explained by risk factors such as high blood pressure/high cholesterol etc. but about half of the risk remains unexplained. Increasing evidence suggests that genetic factors may explain at least a part of this risk, especially in young lacunar stroke patients. (Lacunar strokes are small strokes caused by the blockage of tiny blood vessels deep inside the brain).
This project will collect DNA from 1100 patients who have had a lacunar stroke and from 2000 controls (who have never had a stroke) from all over the UK.
This unique resource will then allow us to investigate the role of a large number of possible genes that might cause stroke risk. We hope that, by understanding new mechanisms of why stroke occurs, we will be able to develop better therapies.
What will happen if I take part?
If you take part we will ask you about any risk factors for stroke (such as smoking and high blood pressure). We will measure your height, weight and blood pressure. We will take a blood sample (of 40mls which is about 8 teaspoonfuls) which will be used for future genetic analysis. When the genetic analysis is performed this will be performed entirely anonymously so nobody will know which sample belongs to which patient. The interview and blood test will take about 15 minutes.
We need brain imaging in all the stroke patients who are taking part in this research. It is likely that you would have already had this performed routinely but if not we will ask whether you will be prepared to attend for a scan called an MRI scan. This is a routine investigation in patients with stroke. It is painless and has no known side effects. However some people find the MRI machine claustrophobic, and the scan is rather noisy. It takes about 20 minutes.
How is the study progressing?
We have obtained data from 803 patients to date and control recruitment is complete. We aim to finish the study by the end of 2011.
If you have already taken part in this study thank you so much for your help!
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