Swansea University Projects
Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation especially in South Wales are major diseases resulting in a significant social and economic burden. It has long been argued that AF and stroke unfavourably alter how the blood clots; however, there is no available test that can provide a numerical description of blood clotting quality in a clinical setting. The main goal of this observational study is to validate a novel test of clot quality, fractal dimension (df) in atrial fibrillation patients with and without stroke. This study aims to determine whether these patients are more likely to produce substantially modified clots that results in poorer clot quality and how these patients respond to anti coagulation (blood thinning) therapy. To do this a baseline blood sample will be taken for two different groups: atrial fibrillation patients suffering a stroke and atrial fibrillation patients without stroke. These patients will then receive oral anticoagulant therapy, following which a second sample will be taken to determine whether they improve clotting quality. The results of the second blood test will be compared to the results of their matched baseline for each participant to ascertain what effect oral anticoagulation has on clotting quality.http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/863/news/47436
Swansea University – Top Stroke- related Publications
Sabra, A., Stanford, S., Storton, S., Lawrence, M., D’Silva, L., Morris, R., Evans, V., Wani, M., Potter, J. & Evans, P. (2016). Assessment of platelet function in patients with stroke using multiple electrode platelet aggregometry: a prospective observational study. BMC Neurology 16(1). doi:10.1186/s12883-016-0778-x.
Broome, L., Battle, C., Lawrence, M., Evans, P. & Dennis, M. (2016). Cognitive Outcomes following Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 25(12), 2868-2875. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.07.048.
Stanford, S., Sabra, A., Lawrence, M., Morris, R., Storton, S., Wani, M., Hawkins, K., Williams, P., Potter, J. & Evans, P. (2015). Prospective Evaluation of Blood Coagulability and Effect of Treatment in Patients with Stroke Using Rotational Thromboelastometry. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 24(2), 304-311. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.08.028.
Stanford, S., Sabra, A., D’Silva, L., Lawrence, M., Morris, R., Storton, S., Brown, M., Evans, V., Hawkins, K., Williams, P., Davidson, S., Wani, M., Potter, J. & Evans, P. (2015). The changes in clot microstructure in patients with ischaemic stroke and the effects of therapeutic intervention: a prospective observational study. BMC Neurology 15(1), 35. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0289-1.
Halcox JPJ, Wareham K, Cardew A, Gilmore M, Barry JP, Phillips C, Gravenor MB. Assessment of Remote Heart Rhythm Sampling Using the AliveCor Heart Monitor to Screen for Atrial Fibrillation: The REHEARSE-AF Study. Circulation. 2017;136:1784-1794.
Lacoin L, Lumley M, Ridha E, Pereira M, Ramagopalan S, Lefevre C, Evans, Halcox JPJ. The evolving landscape of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation within the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2016: a cross-sectional analysis study using CPRD. BMJ Open. 2017;7:e015363.
Freedman B et al (AF-Screen Collaborators) Screening for Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration.Circulation 2017;135:1851-1867.
Borghi C, Tubach F, De Backer G, Dallongeville J, Guallar E, Medina J, Perk J, Roy C, Banegas JR, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Halcox JPJ. Lack of control of hypertension in primary cardiovascular disease prevention in Europe: Results from the EURIKA study. Int J Cardiol. 2016;218:83-8.