Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud Alzheimer Centre, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2022;87(2):807-816. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220052.
Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (sCAA) research of the past decade has increasingly focused on developing biomarkers that allow for an earlier and more accurate sCAA-diagnosis. Considering that sCAA does not have treatment options available (yet), more fundamental questions concerning the desirability of using such early-sCAA biomarkers in clinical practice need to be addressed.
In this qualitative interview study, we aim to explore the views of vascular neurologists on the purpose and possible consequences of an earlier and more accurate sCAA-diagnosis, using new biomarkers.
Vascular neurologists from around the world were approached via email and interviewed via video call. Topics included views on current sCAA diagnostic practice, considerations on the use of new biomarkers, and expectations and hopes for the future. All interviews were transcribed ad verbatim using a transcription program (Otter.ai). Transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
We interviewed 14 vascular neurologists. Views regarding the desirability of new sCAA-biomarkers differed substantially between interviewees as to when and in whom these biomarkers could be of benefit in clinical practice. These differences were mainly reported with regards to prognosis, risk stratification, and biological precision, between general stroke neurologists and neurologists with specific sCAA-expertise.
Views on the use of sCAA-biomarkers in clinical practice differ substantially between vascular neurologists. There is particularly no consensus regarding when, and in whom sCAA biomarkers could be useful in clinical practice.
过去十年，散发性脑淀粉样血管病（sCAA）的研究越来越关注开发生物标志物，以实现更早、更准确的 sCAA 诊断。鉴于 sCAA 目前尚无治疗方法（尚未），需要更深入地探讨在临床实践中使用此类早期 sCAA 生物标志物的必要性和可能产生的后果等基本问题。
在这项定性访谈研究中，我们旨在探讨血管神经学家对使用新生物标志物进行更早、更准确的 sCAA 诊断的目的和可能后果的看法。
通过电子邮件联系了来自世界各地的血管神经学家，并通过视频通话进行了访谈。访谈内容包括对当前 sCAA 诊断实践的看法、对新生物标志物的使用的考虑，以及对未来的期望和希望。所有访谈均使用转录程序（Otter.ai）逐字转录。使用归纳内容分析法对转录本进行分析。
我们采访了 14 位血管神经学家。受访者对新的 sCAA 生物标志物的期望差异很大，具体取决于何时以及在何种情况下这些生物标志物对临床实践有益。这些差异主要是在一般卒中神经科医生和具有特定 sCAA 专业知识的神经科医生之间，就预后、风险分层和生物学精度方面报告的。
血管神经学家对 sCAA 生物标志物在临床实践中的使用的看法存在很大差异。目前，对于何时以及在何种情况下 sCAA 生物标志物在临床实践中可能有用，尚未达成共识。
