IPF in Intensive Care Unit v.1.2 (08/06/2016)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Utility of Immature Platelet Fraction in Discriminating the Mechanisms of Thrombocytopenia, Guiding Platelet Transfusion Requirements and Predicting Outcomes in Intensive Care Unit
IRAS ID
199320
Contact name
Usman Ali
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Platelets are small cellular fragments found within the peripheral blood and play a fundamental role in the ceasation of bleeding. A simple, automated test called Immature Platelet Fraction (IPF) is a routine real-time index for platelet production – a process called thrombopoiesis. This test can be used as; (i) an auxiliary test to reliably diagnose the mechanisms that lead to a reduced platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and (ii) as a marker of increased risk of thrombosis due to increased platelet numbers or activity. IPF has a promising benefit in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where it has not yet been studied, despite the high frequency of thrombocytopenia in this setting. Here, IPF can be used to differentiate between thrombocytopenia that is due to bone marrow failure (central) where bleeding is more likely, and thrombocytopenia that is due to peripheral destruction of platelets (peripheral) where bleeding is unlikely.
Clinical/laboratory data will be used to identify the value of IPF as a diagnostic (and prognostic) tool in ICU, particularly in discriminating central and peripheral mechanisms of thrombocytopenias and in predicting the need for platelet replacement therapy (transfusion), duration of hospital stay, bleeding, morbidity and mortality. The samples will be anonymised from the researcher at the receipt in the laboratory by direct care team.
IPF is part of the routine Full Blood Count at Homerton Hospital. This proposed research is to investigate this routine IPF test using the data. The benefits would be to: (i) determining the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in ICU patients; (ii) ICU patients for better patient experience and identification of underlining thrombocytopenic mechanism for management by selection of appropriate treatments; and (iii) clinicians to make appropriate treatment decisions for their patients in the ICU.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0356
Date of REC Opinion
9 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion