Investigation of CytoSorb cytokine and myoglobin removal in the treatment of trauma and burn injury

Trauma and burn injuries are leading causes of military casualties and need more effective treatments. They are frequently associated with a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome, triggered by tissue damage, cytokine and inflammatory mediator release, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and others, as well as complications such as hemorrhage and rhabdomyolysis that can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and multi-organ failure (MOF). Organ failure significantly increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in wounded warfighters. Despite this, there have been few advances in treating these underlying causes of organ injury. In this Phase II SBIR proposal, CytoSorbents plans to demonstrate the broad utility of blood purification, using an advanced, biocompatible, porous polymer sorbent, to prevent or treat organ failure in both trauma and burn injury. Building upon work accomplished in Phase I, CytoSorbents will test a portable, robust, and logistically-friendly blood purification system that combines a state-of-the-art battery-powered blood pump with CytoSorbents’ sorbent bead technology, that can be easily stockpiled and used in far-forward medical facilities. This blood purification system will be tested in two porcine models of trauma/rhabdomyolysis and burn/inhalation injury to reduce excessive cytokines, myoglobin and other inflammatory mediators in blood, with the goal of preventing or treating organ failure.