Using Hepcidin to predict recovery from anaemia after ICU discharge
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using Hepcidin to predict recovery from anaemia after ICU discharge.
IRAS ID
208052
Contact name
Akshay Shah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Anaemia during and after intensive care is very common - approximately 80% of patients are affected. It is a reduction in the red blood cell count and/or haemoglobin – both of which carry oxygen in the blood. Symptoms of anaemia include feeling tired, lethargic, short of breath and these can impact on quality of life when recovering from critical illness. We wish to better understand the changes that can occur in the blood count, the effect it can have on patients' quality of life (QOL) and whether a new blood test (Hepcidin) can predict recovery. Hepcidin is a recently discovered hormone that controls the distribution of iron within our bodies. In other patient groups, hepcidin has been shown to predict which patients will respond to iron therapy.
In this study, we will take a small blood sample from patients that are deemed 'fit' to be discharged from critical care. We will also take another blood sample in approximately 3 months time at our follow-up clinic. Invitation to the follow-up clinic is a routine part of care and gives us an opportunity to ensure that patients have no continuing problems after intensive care and gives them the opportunity to ask any questions about their intensive care unit stay. Attendance is entirely voluntary. In study, we would like to ask patients about their QOL using validated tools at the follow-up clinic.
We hope the findings of this study will help plan a future trial looking at using iron to treat anaemia in patients who are recovering from intensive care.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0339
Date of REC Opinion
2 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion