The effect of infra-red light on neutrophils from patients with sepsis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of infra-red light on neutrophils from patients with sepsis
IRAS ID
266614
Contact name
Thomas Craven
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
We wish to obtain a single sample of blood (approximately 4.9 mls) from patients being treated on critical care for sepsis. Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by an individual's abnormal response to infection. It is a severe and common condition. The mainstay of treatments involve administering antibiotics to combat infection, and using life support techniques whilst the body and the antibiotics fight the infection. Few treatments are directed at the patient's abnormal response directly.We want to take the blood sample to the laboratory and look at the effect of infra-red light on a type of white blood cell called the neutrophil. Infra-red light is safe and appears to have several anti-inflammatory actions, but the effect on neutrophils has never been studied. We want to look at the anti-inflammatory effects in the blood of patients with sepsis.
The infra-red light will not be applied to the patient. All testing will be performed on the blood sample only and the sample will be disposed of following completion of the analysis.
Summary of Results
Some evidence suggests infrared light can reduce the body's inflammatory response to infection. In this small project carried out for a student's medical degree, we shone infrared light at blood samples from patients who were in critical care because of sepsis. We found a mixture of responses of the white blood cells both increasing and decreasing inflammation. We also found different patients the responses were different. Whilst we showed infrared light did affect inflammation in these white blood cells, we could not show a consistent effect. The study was stopped early due to COVID.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
19/WS/0138
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion