Activation of coagulation and inflammation in trauma II Protocol amendment V2.0 17 June 2010

Research summary

The Activation of Coagulation & Inflammation in Trauma (ACIT) study is designed to identify the clinically significant mechanisms by which the body’s inflammation and coagulation pathways are activated immediately following major trauma. Severely injured patients are enrolled into the study in the emergency department, where blood samples are collected immediately, then at 24 and 72 hours post admission. Patients who are actively bleeding in the emergency department have additional samples taken after administration of the 4th, 8th and 12th units of blood products, if used. Whole blood samples taken upon admission and during transfusion are measured for functional coagulation. Trauma patient blood samples drawn at admission and throughout a three day period are analysed for markers of coagulation, fibrinolysis, endothelial activation and inflammation to characterize the nature, extent and duration of the body's response to trauma. Samples are also processed for DNA banking to assess the impact of population genetic factors to the response to trauma. Through the measurement of functional clotting and the levels of inflammatory and coagulation factors, the study will reveal how trauma leads to coagulopathy and a perturbed inflammatory response which leads to increased transfusion requirements and adverse outcome in terms of organ failure and death. ‘ACIT SWIFT’ sub study: A multi-centre, prospective observational cohort study taking place at a maximum of 10 UK Major Trauma Centres. This sub study is designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms activated by traumatic injury, to understand how these relate outcomes and the effect of early therapies to treat trauma haemorrhage.

Principal Investigator

Prof Simon Stanworth

Contact us

Email: sally.beer@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

71328