Neutrophil function and hemolysis in sickle cell disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study of neutrophil function in relation to hemolysis and heme oxygenase-1 induction in children with sickle cell disease
IRAS ID
136415
Contact name
Aubrey Cunnington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Research summary
Sickle cell disease is caused by a problem with red blood cells, which causes them to breakdown too quickly and to stick together in small blood vessels. We know that children with sickle cell disease are vulnerable to infections. One reason for this might be that some of their white blood cells, called neutrophils, are not able to kill bacteria as well as they should. Based on our previous research, we think that the neutrophils might be affected by substances released from the breakdown of red blood cells. In this study we aim to determine whether neutrophils from children with sickle cell disease are less effective at producing substances needed to kill bacteria, and how this relates to the severity of the breakdown of red blood cells. We will recruit children with sickle cell disease, and control groups of children without sickle cell disease, from the paediatric clinics at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust between December 2013 and October 2014. We will take a small amount of additional blood or bone marrow when the children have these samples taken for medical reasons. We hope that this study will help us to identify which children might be at greatest risk of infections. If we know this, we might be able to do more to prevent infections in the highest risk children.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1681
Date of REC Opinion
28 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion