Each year 40,000 Australians suffer a stroke, most of which arise from interruptions in the blood supply to the brain. Treatments for stroke focus on restoring the brain’s blood supply to limit the number of brain cells which die. Patients who suffer stroke due to a blockage of the arteries supplying the brain (LVO-stroke), benefit from surgical restoration of the blood supply (known as endovascular clot retrieval, ECR), but this is only effective if performed within 24 hours of stroke onset.
Rapid detection of patients with LVO-stroke is key, however many unrelated conditions can mimic stroke symptoms. Patients suspected of suffering a stroke therefore require intensive examination and brain scans to confirm diagnosis before treatment can begin. This delays care provision, particularly for patients in regional areas who must travel to access specialist equipment. Furthermore, the sensitivity of brain scans during the early stages of stroke is poor, increasing the potential for misdiagnosis.
Researchers propose developing a blood test to rapidly screen patients for stroke. Previous research identified 11 new markers in the blood of stroke patients, suggesting diagnostic potential. In this study, researchers we will screen blood samples collected from patients with LVO-stroke to discover markers specifically associated with ECR requirement. The study will also compare the diagnostic performance of identified markers to the screening tool currently used by emergency teams to assess clinical usefulness.
- James Cook University, 2024, $24,850
Publication:
- Moxon, J.V., Pretorius, C., Trollope, A.F., Mittal, P., Klingler-Hoffmann, M., Hoffmann, P. and Golledge, J., 2024. A systematic review and in silico analysis of studies investigating the ischaemic penumbra proteome in animal models of experimental stroke. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, doi.org/10.1177/0271678X241248502.
Conference presentation:
- Moxon, J., Using RNA-Seq to identify stroke diagnostics. Invited oral presentation. 2022 Australian Atherosclerosis Society General Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Nov 2022.