Transfusion-related Inflammatory Cytokine and Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Quantification in Neonates

Overview

Despite many advances in neonatal care, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among premature infants. NEC is the most common life-threatening gastrointestinal emergency encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit, affecting between 3.8% and 13% of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants (1-3). More recently interest has intensified regarding the possible association between "elective" red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in premature infants and the subsequent development of NEC (4-9). On a physiological basis, a few explanations for transfusion-associated NEC have been proposed: 1) the physiological impact of anemia that can initiate a cascade of events leading to ischemic-hypoxemic mucosal gut injury predisposing to NEC [10]; and 2) increased splanchnic blood flow following RBC transfusion leading to reperfusion injury of gut mucosa. Aim 1. This study will quantify inflammatory cytokine profiles in anemic infants cared for in the NICU prior to and after transfusion with packed red blood cells (PRBC), as dictated by current clinical guidelines for treatment of anemia, and prospectively assess for clinical signs and symptoms of NEC following each transfusion event. Aim 2. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) isolated from the pre- and post-transfusion blood samples will be assessed in vitro for neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. Aim 3. A) To determine whether significant anemia preceding a RBC transfusion is associated with impaired intestinal oxygenation, and whether a RBC transfusion temporarily increases splanchnic oxygenation. We postulate that the CSOR will be low (<0.75) at baseline measurement in infants with hemodynamically significant anemia, and that RBC transfusion will temporarily increase intestinal perfusion in that particular group of babies. B) To determine whether alterations in mesenteric regional oxygenation saturation(rSO2) can predict the development of NEC in VLBW infants. We hypothesize that overall cerebro-splanchnic oxygenation ratio (CSOR) values will be significantly lower among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that develop NEC, when compared to CSOR values obtained in infants that do not develop NEC following RBC transfusion.

Full Title of Study: “Transfusion-related Inflammatory Cytokine and Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Quantification in Neonates.”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: April 2015

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Infants requiring PRBCs
    • Premature infants who require PRBCs for anemia that is not related to sepsis, surgery, NEC or immunologic abnormalities.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Serum cytokine content
    • Time Frame: 6 hrs
    • Plasma samples will be analyzed for the protein content of 13 different cytokines via a multiplexed sandwich capture assay performed at the ARUP Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pathology. The cytokines and chemokines assayed will include: CD40 ligand, interferon-gamma, interleukin-10, interleukin-12, interleukin-13, interleukin-1-β, interleukin-2, interleukin-2-receptor, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-6, IL-8, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha. In addition, we will assay components of the complement pathway including: total hemolytic complement, C3a, C5a, and FAB fragments in the alternative complement pathway. Cytokine protein levels before and after transfusion will be compared to each other and to the PRBC sample cytokine content.

Secondary Measures

  • Assessment of NET formation
    • Time Frame: 6 hrs
    • PMNs will be isolated from the participant blood samples following removal of the plasma via positive immunoselection. They will then be stimulated in vitro with NET-inducing stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide or platelet-activating factor for 1 hour under standard conditions and assayed for NET formation both qualitatively via confocal microscopy and quantitatively via histone H3 supernatant content as determined by ELISA and/or western blotting.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Inpatient in NICU at UUMC, PCMC, or IMC – Gestational age at birth ≤ 32 weeks – Birth weight ≤ 1500 grams – Age ≤ 12 weeks of life Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of parental consent – Multiple congenital anomalies

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: N/A

Maximum Age: 12 Weeks

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of Utah
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Susan Wiedmeier, MD, Principal Investigator, University of Utah
    • Mariana Baserga, MD, Principal Investigator, University of Utah

References

Horbar JD, Badger GJ, Carpenter JH, Fanaroff AA, Kilpatrick S, LaCorte M, Phibbs R, Soll RF; Members of the Vermont Oxford Network. Trends in mortality and morbidity for very low birth weight infants, 1991-1999. Pediatrics. 2002 Jul;110(1 Pt 1):143-51. doi: 10.1542/peds.110.1.143.

Lemons JA, Bauer CR, Oh W, Korones SB, Papile LA, Stoll BJ, Verter J, Temprosa M, Wright LL, Ehrenkranz RA, Fanaroff AA, Stark A, Carlo W, Tyson JE, Donovan EF, Shankaran S, Stevenson DK. Very low birth weight outcomes of the National Institute of Child health and human development neonatal research network, January 1995 through December 1996. NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Pediatrics. 2001 Jan;107(1):E1. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.1.e1.

Stoll BJ. Epidemiology of necrotizing enterocolitis. Clin Perinatol. 1994 Jun;21(2):205-18. doi: 10.1016/S0095-5108(18)30341-5.

Mally P, Golombek SG, Mishra R, Nigam S, Mohandas K, Depalhma H, LaGamma EF. Association of necrotizing enterocolitis with elective packed red blood cell transfusions in stable, growing, premature neonates. Am J Perinatol. 2006 Nov;23(8):451-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-951300. Epub 2006 Sep 28.

Christensen RD, Lambert DK, Henry E, Wiedmeier SE, Snow GL, Baer VL, Gerday E, Ilstrup S, Pysher TJ. Is "transfusion-associated necrotizing enterocolitis" an authentic pathogenic entity? Transfusion. 2010 May;50(5):1106-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02542.x. Epub 2009 Dec 29.

Josephson CD, Wesolowski A, Bao G, Sola-Visner MC, Dudell G, Castillejo MI, Shaz BH, Easley KA, Hillyer CD, Maheshwari A. Do red cell transfusions increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants? J Pediatr. 2010 Dec;157(6):972-978.e1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.05.054. Epub 2010 Jul 21.

Blau J, Calo JM, Dozor D, Sutton M, Alpan G, La Gamma EF. Transfusion-related acute gut injury: necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight neonates after packed red blood cell transfusion. J Pediatr. 2011 Mar;158(3):403-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.09.015. Epub 2010 Nov 10.

Singh R, Visintainer PF, Frantz ID 3rd, Shah BL, Meyer KM, Favila SA, Thomas MS, Kent DM. Association of necrotizing enterocolitis with anemia and packed red blood cell transfusions in preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2011 Mar;31(3):176-82. doi: 10.1038/jp.2010.145. Epub 2011 Jan 27.

El-Dib M, Narang S, Lee E, Massaro AN, Aly H. Red blood cell transfusion, feeding and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2011 Mar;31(3):183-7. doi: 10.1038/jp.2010.157. Epub 2011 Jan 20.

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