ARIMIS: Autoimmune phenomena after a stroke

Study Description:
Stroke leads in the short-term to a substantial reduction in the functional ability of the immune system (stroke-induced immunodeficiency - CIDS). This encourages the occurrence of infections (e.g. pneumonia). On the other hand, the destruction of the brain tissue by the stroke can also favor the arising of autoimmune mechanisms. In such a case, the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. In this study, we wanted to show whether the stroke leads to the arising of autoimmune mechanisms and what influence these have upon the clinical course of the disease after the stroke. In the framework of this study, blood was taken from patients who have suffered a moderately severe to severe stroke, directly after inclusion in this study within 36 hours, after three, seven, 90 and 180 days after the stroke and tested for immunological changes. In addition, thorough clinical examinations were carried out.

Principle Investigator: Dr. Juliane Klehmet (WG Cerebrovascular Diseases, NCRC, Neurology CCM)

Registration: This study is registered in the database clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01082783).

Course of the study: 03/2009 - 02/2013

Publication:
Klehmet J, Hoffmann S, Walter G, Meisel C, Meisel A. Stroke induces specific alteration of T memory compartment controlling auto-reactive CNS antigen-specific T cell responses. J Neurol Sci. 2016 Sep 15;368:77-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2016.06.039. Link