LINCHPIN

LINCHPIN is a community-based study of the cause and prognosis of ICH

Lothian INtraCerebral Haemorrhage Pathology, Imaging and Neurological outcome study (LINCHPIN) has recruited cohorts of adults newly diagnosed with spontaneous ICH from hospitals in the Lothian region and in cases of sudden death (approximately 10% cases of those presenting with ICH) from the community. Adults admitted to hospital were recruited from the three acute stroke units in NHS Lothian (Western General Hospital [WGH], Edinburgh Royal Infirmary [ERI], and St John’s Hospital [SJH]), and their associated emergency departments, medical admissions units, ITUs, neurovascular clinics, and regional neuroscience centre.

We obtain consent from patients with ICH, or a proxy, for any of the following:

• Clinical data collection in addition to what is done in normal clinical care (IQCODE informant questionnaire)
• Blood samples for apolipoprotein E genotype analysis, and DNA storage.
• Blood samples for serum inflammatory markers and storage for future use to be taken on admission and on day 3+/-2, day 7+/-2 and day 14+/-2 after ICH onset.
• Initial brain MRI within 6 months of ICH onset
• Annual brain MRI following the initial brain MRI
• CT brain imaging on day 3+/-2, day 7+/-2 and day 14+/-2 after ICH onset
• CSF examination within 6 months of ICH onset
• The examination and retention of brain tissue from autopsies of patients who die after ICH, or from cortical biopsies of patients who undergo neurosurgical evacuation of ICH.
• Telephone or outpatient clinic assessment of survivors to ascertain their functional outcome at 6 months after ICH, as dictated by the participant’s wishes and ability to attend an outpatient clinic appointment, after first checking their suitability with their GP.
• Annual GP questionnaire to determine future history of ICH and cognitive impairment.