Clinical Research Studies

Approximately 8-10% of ventilator dependent patients are being placed on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for adult respiratory distress syndrome during the COVID 19 pandemic. The value of ECMO in this particular entity has been alluded to in the literature but the impact on cytokine storm, has NOT been globally evaluated. By studying the kinetics of the cytokine/immune storm in ARDS COVID patients pre and on ECMO we will be able to (1) describe the baseline time course of specific cytokine elevation and decrease, as well as effects on blood immune genes during ECMO therapy in anticipation of future trials which will involve studying whether in line interventions of cytokine filtration can reduce cytokines responsible for the ARDS.