The auto-antibody profile of ITP patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the auto-antibody profile of Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients using HUProtTM protein arrays – a pilot study.
IRAS ID
298829
Contact name
Nicholas Pugh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Anglia Ruskin University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Autoimmunity is where a patient’s immune system recognises and rejects their own cells, causing damage and disease. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disease which affects 3000-4000 patients in the UK at any one time. ITP can occur in children but becomes more common with age. In ITP the immune system targets a blood cell called a platelet and generates antibodies directed against the platelet surface (known as auto-antibodies). These bind to the platelet and target it for destruction. Whilst the nature of auto-antibodies in ITP patients has been studied, in around 30% of patients no obvious auto-antibody type has been identified. Here, we are proposing to conduct a pilot project looking at the auto-antibody profile of a subset of ITP patients. We will use a new technology known as HuProtTM protein microarrays to characterise all of the auto-antibodies present in a patient’s blood. This will identify auto-antibodies that have yet to be associated with ITP disease progression. As part of our analysis, we will compare the auto-antibody profile to disease outcomes. We hope to use this information to develop a specific test for ITP that will correlate auto-antibody responses with the likely patient outcome. This will help in predicting disease outcomes, and will assist in selection of appropriate treatments. As this is a preliminary study, we will analyse blood from 16 patients, providing information on the ranges of auto-antibody responses, and allowing optimisation of data analysis. Subsequent studies will investigate a larger panel of patients.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1215
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion