ALPINE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory physiological study of plasma Arginine:Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in Preterm infants at high risk of Infection and Necrotising Enterocolitis (ALPINE)
IRAS ID
366175
Contact name
Colin Morgan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
The ALPINE study will use remaining serum from blood samples that are being taken routinely for their baby’s clinical care to measure levels of two naturally produced chemicals called Arginine and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine or ‘ADMA’ in preterm babies over the first 30 days of life to see if they are linked to a gut complication of prematurity called necrotising enterocolitis or 'NEC' and late-onset sepsis. NEC and late-onset sepsis are both associated with high morbidity and mortality, and NEC can require an operation as part of the treatment. The infants will undergo routine clinical care throughout the study. No extra blood or additional blood tests will be taken for ALPINE. Surplus serum taken from routine clinical blood tests will be used to measure Arginine and ADMA.
Research has shown that newborn babies do not get enough arginine, especially if they cannot milk feed because of prematurity, NEC or are having an operation on their tummy. A study has shown that babies with NEC with a low arginine and high ADMA had more complications and recovered slower. A study in adult sepsis showed high ADMA associated with poorer outcomes. We predict Arginine and ADMA can be used to predict which babies go onto develop NEC and infections. If these blood levels are useful in predicting which babies will develop NEC and infections, we may be able to develop treatments in the future that will help reduce the risk of developing these conditions.
ALPINE will look at the Arginine and ADMA levels in 40 babies born < 29 weeks gestation at high risk of infection and NEC at the Neonatal Unit at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. The study will look at the first 30 days of life.
Recruitment will take place from March 2026 and run for approximately 10 months.REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/WM/0004
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion