Does GM-CSF Restore Neutrophil Phagocytosis in Critical Illness?
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Despite the introduction of multiple preventative measures rates of hospital acquired
infection in the intensive care unit remain high. New approaches to tackling this problem are
required. The neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) is the key cell fighting bacterial and
fungal infection in the body. This research group has already shown that the majority of
patients on intensive care have neutrophils which don't ingest germs effectively and are
therefore less able to fight infection. These patients, whose white blood cells don't work
properly, are much more likely to develop a second infection whilst in hospital (hospital
acquired infection).
Previous work done by this group has shown that by adding a drug called granulocyte
macrophagecolony stimulating
factor (GM-CSF) to a sample of blood from these patients in the lab, it is possible to
restore the ability of the white blood cells to ingest bacteria and fight infection.
This study will test whether it is possible to restore the capacity of patients' white blood
cells to eat germs by giving them GM-CSF as an injection while they are on intensive care.
The study will involve identifying adult patients on intensive care whose white blood cells
don't work properly in this way. Patients taking part in the study will receive an injection,
under the skin, of either the drug, GM-CSF, or a solution which will have no effect
(placebo). The investigators will compare whether those patients who have received the GM-CSF
injection have an improvement in the function of the white blood cells compared to those who
don't.
As well as looking at the function of the white blood cells the investigators will also study
whether there is a difference in the rates of infection picked up in hospital between the two
groups.
This study is funded by the Medical Research Council.