Genetic, Metabolic, and Growth Factor Repository for Cerebrovascular Disorders
Genetic, Metabolic, and Growth Factor Repository for Cerebrovascular Disorders
This study encompasses the maintenance and utilization of a repository of samples from
 patients with cerebrovascular disease and stroke. The types of tissue taken are blood,
 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), tissue, and microdialysis samples. Future analysis of these
 samples can potentially help investigators to better categorize groups of patients,
 understand the underlying etiology of these pathologies, identify markers that are associated
 with favorable or poor outcomes, and track changes that occur during the natural course of
 the disease or with treatment. This is a prospective observational study which will use
 samples from such patients to create this library which can be used to explore these
 questions in the future.
Genetic and metabolic profiling has become an important means to evaluate various
 pathologies, their effects on patients, and their treatments. In regards to cerebrovascular
 disease and stroke, there are a number of hypotheses which have been proposed. The levels and
 types of various angiogenic factors in the blood and tissues have been proposed to be
 predictive of patient outcome after ischemic stroke and treatment for stroke. Likewise,
 genetic factors may predict outcome or response to various types of treatments.

 The role of biological samples in furthering our understandings about cerebrovascular disease
 and treatment are well documented. Muscle microdialysis samples have confirmed the presence
 of sublethal ischemia during the induction of remote ischemic preconditioning. The effects of
 remote ischemic preconditioning on the coagulation profile, DNA methylation, and cell cycle
 gene expression of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have also been
 elucidated. Blood samples collected in patients with intracranial arterial stenosis have
 produced many insights. Inflammatory cell profiles in patient who receive
 encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) surgery have been characterized. Angiogenic factor
 measurements have been shown to predict the degree of neovascularization in patients
 post-EDAS. In patients with intracranial atherosclerosis, angiogenic factor profiles were
 found to strongly correlate with failure of medical management and poor outcomes.

 It is clear that genetic and metabolic profiling are effective tools in evaluating the
 effects of cerebrovascular disease and their treatments. This study encompasses the
 maintenance and utilization of a repository of samples from patients with cerebrovascular
 disease and stroke. For every patient enrolled in the study, relevant patient information
 such as age, gender, diagnosis, medical history, family history, procedures/treatments
 received, radiological reports, and patient outcomes are recorded. This information is
 updated upon every follow-up during the study. The types of tissue taken are blood,
 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), tissue, and microdialysis samples.

 Future analysis of these samples can potentially help investigators to better categorize
 groups of patients, understand the underlying etiology of these pathologies, identify markers
 that are associated with favorable or poor outcomes, and track changes that occur during the
 natural course of the disease or with treatment. This repository serves as the groundwork to
 explore these questions in the future.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  All patients diagnosed with cerebral vascular disease, regardless of gender, age,
 ethnicity/race, stage of disease or treatment, are eligible.

 -  Expected availability of clinical follow up data

 -  Participants must be willing to provide written, informed consent obtained in
 accordance with institutional and federal guidelines.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant women are excluded from the study.