Platelet function in critical illness and liver disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Platelet function in critical illness and liver disease
IRAS ID
335135
Contact name
Matthew Frise
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Platelets are cells that circulate in the bloodstream and attach to the wall of a blood vessel when damage occurs so as to form a clot, which prevents or reduces bleeding from the point of damage.
A low level of platelets in the blood – termed thrombocytopenia – is a common finding in many different types of critical illness, and predicts a worse outcome for patients.
Aside from thrombocytopaenia, impairments of platelet function also play a role in both disorders of bleeding and in abnormal activation of clotting. One group of patients in whom this is particularly important is those with liver disease, including established liver disorders such as alcohol-related cirrhosis, or liver dysfunction that develops during a period of critical illness, for example as a result of sepsis.
Previous research studies have tended to focus on the number of platelets in the blood rather than their function, because the former is much easier to measure. However, because there is not a simple relationship between the number of platelets in the blood and how well they work, relying simply on measuring the abundance of platelets in the blood may not be the best approach in critically ill patients, particularly those with liver disorders.
In this study we will use state-of-the-art techniques to examine the function of platelets taken from the blood of patients with critical illness and liver disease. We will study how changes in platelet function measured in the laboratory relate to problems patients experience during critical illness, such as bleeding, clotting, and organ dysfunction.
The aim is to gain a better understanding of the factors that affect platelet function in critical illness and liver disease, to support future studies looking at improving treatments for this group of patients.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0053
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion