MMARDS: Molecular Mechanisms of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): A Mechanistic Study of Blood and Airway Inflammation
IRAS ID
185448
Contact name
Carlos Gomez
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
We aim to assess the inflammation seen in acute respiratory distress syndrome by studying the fluid and cells lining in the airways of people with the condition. We hope that by improving our understanding of the types of inflammation that occur in this condition, we will be able to improve the treatment for patients in the future.
Conventional methods of taking samples from the airways have drawbacks. Our clinical research group at St Mary’s Hospital have been developing new ways to absorb the moisture on the inside surface of the nose and airways using medical grade, CE marked devices (nasosorption and bronchosorption) which can be inserted into the nose or into the bronchus (via a bronchoscope). These devices contain a strip of synthetic absorptive matrix which is placed on the mucosal surface and absorbs the fluid. This surface fluid reflects the inflammation that is going on below the surface.
This has the advantage of being less invasive than other techniques such as taking a biopsy or brushing the surface of the airway. We also sample the nose to tell us about inflammation further down in the lungs.
We propose to take airway, nose and blood samples from patients who have been admitted to the intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital with a diagnosis of ARDS either due to pneumonia or secondary to trauma. In addition, as these patients recover we will take samples from their nose and blood to map the changes seen during recovery. We hope to identify patterns of inflammation and important differences between patients. These patterns may be present in both the nose and the airway. Identifying these patterns may, in the future, enable us to use less invasive tests for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients and help us to tailor treatment more accurately.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1542
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion