Radial Artery Function Following Trans-radial Cardiac Catheterisation

Radial Artery Function Following Trans-radial Cardiac Catheterisation

The investigators will study Radial artery injury and endothelial function following trans-radial cardiac catheterisation. Radial artery injury will be quantified pre- and post- angiography using Optical Coherence Tomography. The participants will also have radial endothelial function assessed using flow-mediated dilatation at baseline, 24 hours, one week, one month and three months post- angiography. Blood will be taken pre and 24 hours post angiography for characterisation of endothelial progenitor cell numbers and function. The hypothesis is that trans-radial catheterisation will cause a reduction in flow-mediated dilatation which peaks at 24 hours and recovers at three months. The investigators hope to correlate the rate of this recovery with peri-procedural progenitor cell numbers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stable outpatient population aged between 18-85 attending for trans-radial cardiac catheterisation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent myocardial infarction (<3 months)
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Chronic renal failure (eGFR<30)
• Inability to give informed consent