Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39976157›Full record

ArticleActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2025

Ethical Biobanking in Extremely Preterm Infants: Lessons From the EPITOP Study.

Ulrika Sjöbom, Jenny Isaksson, Ruth Wickelgren, Liv Vallin, Anders K Nilsson, Ann Hellström, Karin Sävman, Chatarina Löfqvist

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In one paragraph

Article in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ulrika SjöbomInstitute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-4844-2396
Jenny IsakssonRegion Västra Götaland, Biobank Väst, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Ruth WickelgrenRegion Västra Götaland, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Liv VallinDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Anders K NilssonDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-3631-0783
Ann HellströmDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-9259-1244
Karin SävmanDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Chatarina LöfqvistInstitute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

De Blindas VännerKnut and Alice Wallenbergs Foundation - the Wallenberg Clinical Scholars KAW 2018.0310Swedish Research Council 2020-01092_VRSwedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement ALFGBG-71971Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement ALFGBG-812951
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe Extremely Preterm Infant Target Optimise and Prevent (EPITOP) study aimed to develop an ethical and practical approach to biobanking salvaged residual blood samples from extremely preterm infants (< 28 weeks gestational age, GA) for biomarker research while minimising clinical risks and addressing ethical concerns.

methodsInitiated in collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Biobank Väst, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, residual blood samples were collected from infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from March 2020 to March 2024. Samples were ethically salvaged and biobanked following parental consent and in compliance with Sweden's Biobank Act.

resultsAmong 215 eligible infants (mean (GA) 25.4 weeks), 122 consents enabled the collection of 4238 residual samples, of which 92.5% were from blood gas analyses. Sample collection was highest during the first weeks of life, with a median of 35 samples per infant. A higher number of morbidities and lower GA were both associated with an increase in sample numbers. Plasma and whole blood aliquots were prepared and stored for future biomarker studies.

conclusionThe EPITOP study demonstrates the feasibility of ethically biobanking salvaged residual blood samples from extremely preterm infants. This approach minimises clinical risks while supporting biomarker discovery, providing a scalable model for neonatal research.

Indexed as

Biological Specimen BanksBlood Specimen CollectionInfant, Extremely PrematureFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornIntensive Care Units, NeonatalMaleSwedenbiomarker researchlongitudinal samplingneonatal biobankneonatepaediatric

Identifiers

PMID39976157
PMCPMC12258102

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