Covid19, Sepsis
Conditions
Brief summary
Corona Virus Disease or COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. There have been reports of serious COVID-19 illness in children. In addition it has been linked to clusters of children presenting with high fevers and inflammation. Sepsis, also called blood poisoning, is an abnormal response of the body to some infections. We aim to conduct research in children under 18 admitted to intensive care unit. Using a systems approach towards mapping the body's immune and metabolic responses to COVID-19 or related illnesses and compare with other sepsis like illnesses.
Detailed description
Corona Virus Disease or COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. There have been reports of serious COVID-19 illness in children. In addition it has been linked to clusters of children presenting with high fevers and inflammation. Sepsis, also called blood poisoning, is an abnormal response of the body to some infections. We aim to conduct research in children under 18 admitted to intensive care unit and wards using blood samples. Blood samples as small as a quarter of a teaspoon, will be collected only alongside other routine blood tests. By analysing the blood samples, we aim to identify unique signals of information from the child or young person's genetic code as well as other chemical markers. This is to map the body's immune and metabolic response to COVID-19 or related illness and compare with other illnesses like sepsis. It will help us better understand COVID-19 illness and its association with the abnormal inflammatory response. The research will not delay emergency treatment for children or young people. Appropriate procedures for consent such as deferred consent will be used in children or young people with serious illness. Young people of 16 and 17 years of age will be assessed for capacity to consent. The study results will not influence the clinical care of patients. The research would not be identifying any other genetic disorders. Even though the data obtained includes some unique genetic information, the research only uses anonymised details from patients and there is no risk to confidentiality. Remaining blood following analysis will be stored in Biobank for an agreed duration. Specific consent will be obtained from parents or legal guardians, or young people with capacity for analysis and collection of unique genetic data, clinical information, sample storage and use of anonymous but unique genetic data for other research.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTDiagnostic Test:Blood test
Drop of blood for RNA and metabolic analysis
Sponsors
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Cardiff University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Days to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children or young people\< 18 years who are admitted to PCCU and who have an acute illness are eligible for participation in the study. Children and young people from age 0 day to \<18 years with confirmed COVID-19 illness and/or those who meet the Multisystem inflammatory syndrome case definition. \-
Exclusion criteria
* Admitted to hospital for social reasons Or Declined consent by Parents or carers with legal responsibility or competent child Or Admitted to PCCU following a planned surgical procedure without an acute illness Or Direct clinical care team not able to provide research information in a language appropriate for non-English/Welsh speaking participants
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome 1 | 3 years | To evaluate known blood molecular and genomic markers of infection in children and young persons with confirmed or probable COVID19 and compare with non COVID19 illnesses. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome 2 | 3 Years | To investigate systemic pathway biology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and by comparison with other viral and bacterial sepsis cases identify new signatures associated with COVID-19 in patients up to 18 years of age. To profile molecular analytes (proteins, lipids and nucleic acids) and blood cell phenotypes in children with sepsis |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
Primary ContactPeter Ghazal, PhD
Outcome results
None listed