ITP cohort outcomes.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational study to investigate pathogenesis and clinical outcomes in patients with Immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP).
IRAS ID
260154
Contact name
Marie Scully
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2019/02/126, UCL Data Protection Reference Number
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. People with the disease have too few platelets in the blood and therefore have an increased risk of (sometimes life threatening) bleeding. ITP occurs when certain immune system cells produce antibodies against platelets. Platelets help the blood clot by clumping together to plug small holes in damaged blood vessels. These antibodies attach to the platelets and the result in rapid destruction of platelets. In adults the development of ITP remains not entirely clear although 2 main antibodies have been identified to be responsible for most cases of ITP. It appears that ITP is more common in women than in men but currently no test exists to confirm the diagnosis. The diagnosis can only currently be made if no other diagnosis is found (therefore it is a diagnosis of exclusion). Patients with ITP have a markedly decreased quality of life; this is as a result of both disease and treatment factors which appear to contribute to this.
The aim of this study is to recruit ITP patients from the current UCLH ITP cohort as this is one of the largest groups of patients receiving care for ITP in the country. The proposed study plan is to analyse numerous factors of the current ITP cohort in order to better understand the clinic course of the disease and current responses to available therapies. The study also proposes to take blood samples from patients (when they have routine clinic bloods done so patients will not be asked to have additional blood tests separately). The aim of this is to better understand the antibodies involved in the development of ITP. This will help in developing a better understanding of the disease process and ultimately help to develop a better way in diagnosing the disease.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0201
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion