MIF in Sepsis - Pediatric Study
Release of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Sepsis and Other Inflammatory Conditions in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients
Protocol ID
Protocol Description
The purpose of this study is to find out if Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is increased in sickle cell disease during fever, sepsis (an infection caused by bacteria growing in the blood) pain crisis, and during graft versus host disease (GVHD) in transplant patients. GVHD is a common side effect of the stem cell transplant patients- were stem cells from the donor marrow attack the body of the transplant patient. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a form of protein, known to be released during inflammation, such as during severe sepsis and shock, along with normal body stress steroids which negatively affects heart function. During severe sepsis and septic shock in human, lungs release MIF into the pulmonary circulation and there is accumulation of MIF in the plasma.
It is hoped that this study will provide additional information on how the body reacts to severe infections and help provide better ways to treat sepsis, shock, pain crisis and GVHD in the future.
Eligibility Criteria
Patients who have a diagnosis of sickle-cell disease and have been admitted to the hospital for one of the following conditions:
- Fever
- Sepsis (an infection caused by bacteria growing in the blood.) or shock (severe form of sepsis)
- Pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
- Acute chest syndrome (defined as pain like crisis in the lungs associated with fever, difficulty breathing and decreased oxygen saturation may or may not be associated with lung infection)
- Pain crisis (known as vaso-occlusive crisis, or VOC).
- Patients who have been admitted for a stem cell transplant (also known as a bone marrow transplant).
- Stem cell transplant patients who were also previously enrolled in the MIF pilot study (study title “Release of Macrophage Migratory Inhibitory Factor in Sepsis and other Inflammatory Conditions in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients”, by Dr. Vlachos).
Primary Investigator(s)
- Adrianna Vlachos, MD