Studies inflammation and brain scans after an acute ischemic stroke
Scans and blood tests track immune activity in 36 people after a stroke.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Inflammatory faCtors AfteR acUte Ischemic Stroke
Key facts
- Where
- Munich, GermanySee the 2 sites
Where in Germany
- Department of Nuclear MedicineMunich, GermanyTaking people
- Insitute for Stroke and Dementia ResearchMunich, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Martin Dichgans
- Trial code
- NCT04412187
- Record updated
- 4 April 2025
- Original description
ICARUS is an interventional single-centre hospital-based cohort study in patients admitted to the stroke unit with an acute ischemic stroke. The aims of the study are to i) define the characteristics and determinants of microglial activation after human stroke, and ii) assess the correlation of microglial activation with circulating inflammatory markers, structural brain changes on neuroimaging, and neurological outcomes.Read full original descriptionShow less
Inflammatory faCtors AfteR acUte Ischemic Stroke
ICARUS is an interventional single-centre hospital-based cohort study in patients admitted to the stroke unit with an acute ischemic stroke. The aims of the study are to i) define the characteristics and determinants of microglial activation after human stroke, and ii) assess the correlation of microglial activation with circulating inflammatory markers, structural brain changes on neuroimaging, and neurological outcomes.
ICARUS involves serial TSPO-PET imaging along with serial MRI, immune cell profiling in blood, and both clinical and laboratory assessments in 36 patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a cortical (N=18) or strictly subcortical (N=18) infarct.
In a substudy, the investigators will include 10 independently recruited patients with acute ischemic stroke to assess MRI arterial spin labelling (ASL) sequences as a marker for perfusion measurement of the TSPO tracer.
Inclusion: Age ≥ 50 years; Acute ischemic stroke (time frame: <72 hours) as defined by an acute focal neurological deficit in combination with a corresponding infarct as documented by a diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); presence of an infarct involving the cortex or a strictly subcortical infarct; Written informed consent prior to study participation; Willingness to participate in study assessments including follow-up.
Exclusion: Prior history of stroke, multiple infarcts, infratentorial infarcts affecting the brain stem or cerebellum; Immunomodulatory therapies within the last 3 months prior stroke; Infectious diseases within the last 7 days prior stroke; Contraindications for MRI or PET (pacemaker, aneurysm clip, cochlear implant etc.); Radiation exposure of > 10mSv per year; Known diseases of the CNS other than stroke; Chronic inflammatory disease; Conditions interfering with follow-up such as end-stage malignancy; Unwillingness or inability to give written consent; Pregnant or breastfeeding women; Participation in a clinical trial.