Biomarkers of Cerebral Cavernous Angioma With Symptomatic Hemorrhage (CASH)
The project aims to develop prognostic and diagnostic blood tests for symptomatic brain hemorrhage in patients diagnosed with cavernous angiomas, a critical clinical challenge in a disease affecting more than a million Americans. We further examine whether blood biomarkers can replace or enhance the accuracy of advanced imaging in association with lesional bleeding. The project tests a novel integrational approach of biomarker development in a mechanistically defined cerebrovascular disease, with a clinically relevant context of use.
• Clinical diagnosis of CA
• age 18 or older
• solitary or multiple
• familial or sporadic
• with or without prior symptoms
• \< 30 years of age
• one or more seizures (with or without medical therapy) in the prior year
⁃ OR
• \> 50 years of age
• having received an MRI of the brain with SWI (susceptibility weighted imaging) sequences for any indication in the year prior to enrollment
• No HMA on brain MRI SWI sequences
⁃ OR
• \> 50 years of age
• having received an MRI of the brain with SWI sequences for any indication in the year prior to enrollment
• Two or more microbleeds on SWI brain MRI sequences, adjudicated by neuroradiologist