Metabolic Monitoring during Cooling for HIE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Metabolic Monitoring during Cooling for Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy
IRAS ID
251956
Contact name
Kathryn Beardsall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
In the UK approximately 1200 babies per year undergo cooling for the treatment of ‘birth asphyxia’ or hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). This is when the blood and oxygen supplied to the baby around the time of birth is compromised. This not only impacts on the brain and can cause long term brain damage, but disturbs the normal metabolic balance in these babies. This makes them at risk of very high and very low blood sugars, which can make the brain injury worse. The effect of the low sugars is also dependent on the availability of other fuels that come from fats. Clinical management of sugar control in these ill babies is challenging because of infrequent blood sugar measurements and inability to measure other fuels.
We want to see if we can use new technology to
i. Continuously measure sugar levels in these babies
ii. Measure the other fuels to understand better risk in these babiesWe have used continuous sugar (glucose) monitoring (CGM) to help target sugar control in preterm infants who require intensive care. CGM however has not been used in babies who are being cooled. We want to validate the devices accuracy and utility when used in babies being cooled, by collecting data masked to the clinical team. We will also use innovative methods to measure alternative fuels in the small amount of blood in a dried blood spot to better understand risk associated with low sugar levels in these babies.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0002
Date of REC Opinion
13 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion