~20 spots leftby Mar 2026

Novel MRI for Predicting Stroke Risk in Brain Artery Disease

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Overseen bySameer Ansari, MD, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Phase 4
Recruiting
Sponsor: Northwestern University
Disqualifiers: Claustrophobia, Metallic implants, Dementia, others
No Placebo Group
Prior Safety Data
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The cerebral and spinal vasculature possesses several unique properties: it is composed of relatively small vessels, it has a highly connected network architecture, and, due to the confined space around the brain, disruptions in flow (rupture, shunting, or blockage) can cause a clinical impact quickly. These features apply across various pathological conditions that alter the distribution of blood through the cerebral vasculature, such as aneurysm, intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) as well as others. Neurovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality due to stroke in the United States and encompasses a broad range of pathologies including but not limited to cerebral arteriovenous malformation, intracranial atherosclerotic disease, intracranial aneurysms and other neurovascular abnormalities. Novel modalities for assessing disease states in patients with these pathologic conditions are constantly being developed and the understanding of risk factors, disease progression, and effective therapy is rapidly evolving. Neurovascular imaging is at the forefront of this progress. The identification of new predictive biomarkers regarding the risk of rupture, progression, or recurrence will improve prognosis and treatment planning. In this study, there will be evaluation of the various types of brain lesions and different treatment options that have been used by the treating physicians and, grade outcome based on the standard of care MRI imaging. This can help the Investigators stratify the treatment routes, that are better than the other by assessing the mortality and morbidity rates. Investigators are evaluating intracranial lesions and their treatment outcomes can help analyze which standard of care treatment is better than the others at a setting like Northwestern.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Feraheme in predicting stroke risk in brain artery disease?

Research shows that MRI, especially with advanced imaging techniques, is a valuable tool in predicting stroke outcomes and guiding treatment decisions. This suggests that using MRI with Feraheme, a contrast agent, could help in assessing stroke risk and tailoring individual treatment plans.12345

Is the novel MRI for predicting stroke risk safe for humans?

MRI is generally considered safe for humans, and a large study involving 148,489 patients found that MRI with intravenous contrast had a low rate of adverse events (unwanted effects).678910

How is Neurovascular Imaging different from other treatments for brain artery disease?

Neurovascular Imaging, using advanced MRI techniques, is unique because it provides a noninvasive and rapid way to assess brain function and blood flow, helping to predict stroke risk more accurately than traditional methods. Unlike other treatments, it uses diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted imaging to offer detailed insights into brain artery conditions without the need for invasive procedures.1112131415

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults aged 18-85 with intracranial atherosclerosis confirmed by imaging, showing moderate to severe stenosis. Participants must have symptoms linked to this condition and be referred by specific clinical services at Northwestern University or the University of Chicago.

Inclusion Criteria

I have severe narrowing in certain brain arteries confirmed by imaging and have had symptoms or a stroke related to this.
I have been diagnosed with intracranial atherosclerosis and am seeing a specialist at Northwestern University or the University of Chicago.
I am between 18 and 85 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I am over 85 years old.
I do not have serious medical conditions or a history of drug allergies, and I am free from Alzheimer's or dementia.
I don't have claustrophobia, metallic implants, a pacemaker, severe kidney issues, or allergies to MRI contrast or IV iron.
See 1 more

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

MRI Evaluation

Participants undergo various MRI scans to evaluate cerebrovascular reserve, tissue perfusion, and inflammation in ICAD plaques.

1-2 weeks
Multiple visits for MRI scans

Treatment Evaluation

Evaluation of different treatment options and outcomes based on MRI findings to stratify treatment routes.

Ongoing

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after MRI evaluations and treatment stratification.

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Feraheme (Drug)
  • Neurovascular Imaging (Other)
  • Standard of Care MRI Imaging ()
  • Treatment Evaluation (Other)
Trial OverviewThe study tests Feraheme's effectiveness in predicting stroke risk in patients with ICAD using MRI. It evaluates brain lesions and treatment outcomes to determine which standard care options are most effective based on mortality and morbidity rates.
Participant Groups
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Arm 3 - Feumoxytol infusion and MRI BrainExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
An intravenous ferumoxytol infusion (before the patient leaves Northwestern or University of Chicago after stroke care or at another visit) and an MRI exam 72 hours later. This MRI examination will last approximately 30 minutes and will not involve gadavist. All arm 3 procedures will be performed either at Northwestern or University of Chicago.
Group II: Arm 1 - MRI Brain with GadavistActive Control1 Intervention
A research MRI exam that uses the signal from a finger pulse oximeter to synchronize the MRI scan to the subjects heart beat will be acquired. The Gadavist contrast injection will be used during this MRI examination to provide images of cerebral blood flow which will serve as reference standard to identify regions of the brain compromised by cerebral vascular disease. The experimental MRI scan in this case is intended to measure the utilization of oxygen by the brain which is believed to be a predictor of future stroke. All arm 1 procedures will be performed either at Northwestern or University of Chicago.
Group III: Arm 2 - MRI Brain with Tc-99m-HMPAO tracerActive Control1 Intervention
This type of MRI shows the flow of blood in different areas of the brain and will be performed at University of Chicago. This is done with a tracer called Tc-99m-HMPAO, injected through a vein in the arm. HMPAO is Technetium-99m hexamethyl propylenamine oxime and used clinically to assess blood supply in the brain. This MRI will be performed one hour after the injection of this tracer at University of Chicago and will last up to one hour. A tracer is a specially designed drug that is bound to a radioactive material. Tracers are designed to act like natural products in the body allowing imaging to look at how the body is working. Tracers are designed to look at very specific organ functions and, in this case, brain.

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northwestern UniversityLead Sponsor
University of ChicagoCollaborator

References

Use of diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging as a tool in acute stroke clinical trials. [2020]In light of the slow progress in developing effective therapies for ischemic stroke, magnetic resonance imaging techniques have emerged as new tools in stroke clinical trials. Rapid imaging with magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, perfusion imaging and angiography are being incorporated into phase II and phase III stroke trials to optimize patient selection based on positive imaging diagnosis of the ischemic pathophysiology specifically related to a drug's mechanism of action and as a direct biomarker of the effect of a treatment's effect on the brain.
MRI of ICAM-1 upregulation after stroke: the importance of choosing the appropriate target-specific particulate contrast agent. [2022]Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with targeted contrast agents provides a promising means for diagnosis and treatment monitoring after cerebrovascular injury. Our goal was to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to detect the neuroinflammatory biomarker intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) after stroke and to establish a most efficient imaging procedure.
Use of magnetic resonance imaging to predict outcome after stroke: a review of experimental and clinical evidence. [2022]Despite promising results in preclinical stroke research, translation of experimental data into clinical therapy has been difficult. One reason is the heterogeneity of the disease with outcomes ranging from complete recovery to continued decline. A successful treatment in one situation may be ineffective, or even harmful, in another. To overcome this, treatment must be tailored according to the individual based on identification of the risk of damage and estimation of potential recovery. Neuroimaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), could be the tool for a rapid comprehensive assessment in acute stroke with the potential to guide treatment decisions for a better clinical outcome. This review describes current MRI techniques used to characterize stroke in a preclinical research setting, as well as in the clinic. Furthermore, we will discuss current developments and the future potential of neuroimaging for stroke outcome prediction.
Contrast-Enhanced High-Resolution MRI for Evaluating Time Course Changes in Middle Cerebral Artery Plaques. [2018]It is clinically important to evaluate time course changes in symptomatic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenotic plaques because of likely recurrence. The objective of this study is to determine whether contrast-enhanced high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a feasible method for this purpose.
The role of MRI as a prognostic tool in ischemic stroke. [2012]Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an invaluable tool used in the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Ongoing technological advances in MRI technology and advent of new imaging sequences has now made it possible to use MRI as a prognostic tool both in the acute and chronic stages of cerebral ischemia. This review summarizes the role of MRI in estimating final tissue outcome, specifically by providing information on severity and location of ischemic insult, cerebral blood flow dynamics, vascular status, and cerebral reserve. All of these predictions can then be used to make projections regarding clinical outcome, and can be refined by other prognostic models to estimate recovery and risk of further ischemic events. These algorithms, in the end, can ultimately help the clinician in tailoring therapies on an individual basis and optimize the risk-benefit ratio of therapeutic approaches used in the acute and chronic stages of ischemic stroke. The implementation of such prognostic algorithms to clinical imaging workstations and calculation of all the possible projections within minutes after completion of imaging are likely to become an integral part of clinical practice in the near future.
High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atherosclerosis identifies vulnerable carotid plaques. [2015]Carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be a useful tool in characterizing carotid plaque vulnerability, but large studies are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess carotid MRI features of vulnerable plaque in a large study and the changes in carotid plaque morphology with respect to time since the neurological event.
The impact of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on ischemic stroke detection and incidence: minimal impact within a population-based study. [2018]There are several situations in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might impact whether an cerebrovascular event is considered a new stroke. These include clinically non-focal events with positive imaging for acute cerebral infarction, and worsening of older symptoms without evidence of new infarction on MRI. We sought to investigate the impact of MRI on stroke detection and stroke incidence, by describing agreement between a strictly clinical definition of stroke and a definition based on physician opinion, including MRI imaging findings.
Magnetic resonance brain imaging in patients with acute stroke: feasibility and patient related difficulties. [2018]To assess organisational and patient specific limitations and safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the first line investigation for hospital admitted stroke patients.
Baseline characteristics, diagnostic efficacy, and peri-examinational safety of IV gadoteric acid MRI in 148,489 patients. [2020]Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations with intravenous (IV) contrast are performed worldwide in routine daily practice. In order to detect and enumerate even rare adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE), and to relate them with patients' baseline characteristics and diagnostic effectiveness, high quantity sample size is necessary.
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
MR angiography of the head and neck. [2004]A review of the basic physics and techniques for acquiring and evaluating magnetic resonance angiograms is provided, including time-of-flight and phase contrast techniques. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography is becoming a routine method of evaluating carotid bifurcation atherosclerotic disease in both a screening and diagnostic capacity. The expanding clinical utility of MR angiography in the detection of intracranial aneurysms, characterization of arteriovenous malformations, and evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease are also reviewed. Furthermore, MR angiography allows for the noninvasive diagnosis of arterial dissection. Magnetic resonance venography also allows the confirmation of the previously elusive and likely underdiagnosed entity of cerebral venous thrombosis.
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
New magnetic resonance imaging methods for cerebrovascular disease: emerging clinical applications. [2007]During the 1990s, novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have emerged that allow the noninvasive and rapid assessment of normal brain functioning and cerebral pathophysiology. Some of these techniques, including diffusion-weighted imaging and perfusion-weighted imaging, have already been used extensively in specialized centers for the evaluation of patients with cerebrovascular disease. Evidence is now rapidly accumulating that both diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging, particularly when used in combination with high-speed MR angiography, will lead to improvements in the clinical management of acute stroke patients. Other novel MR techniques, such as spectroscopic imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and blood oxygenation level-dependent functional MRI, have not yet assumed a definitive role in the diagnostic evaluation of cerebrovascular disease. However, they are promising research tools that provide noninvasive data about infarct evolution as well as mechanisms of stroke recovery. In this article, we review the basic principles underlying these novel MRI techniques and outline their current and anticipated future impact on the diagnosis and management of patients with cerebrovascular disease.
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Intracranial Posterior Circulation Large Artery Thrombi Visualized Using Susceptibility-Weighted MRI. [2018]To identify thrombi in patients with posterior circulation large artery occlusion using susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
13.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Multicontrast high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging and its value in differentiating intracranial vasculopathic processes. [2022]Although studies have attempted to differentiate intracranial vascular disease using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VWI), none have incorporated multicontrast imaging. This study uses T1- and T2-weighted VWI to differentiate intracranial vasculopathies.
14.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Moyamoya disease: comparison of assessment with MR angiography and MR imaging versus conventional angiography. [2016]To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR imaging in assessment of moyamoya disease.
15.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Clinical Implications of Basilar Artery Plaques in the Pontine Infarction with Normal Basilar Angiogram: A High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. [2019]Using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI), we investigated the impact of basilar artery plaques that were not detected by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) on the functional outcomes of patients with acute pontine infarction.