First-of-its-kind study aims to improve the safety of lifesaving leukemia treatments

At Texas Children’s Hospital, we’re always looking for better ways to care for kids. One of our latest projects involves studying how we can adapt existing technology to safely bring down high white blood cell counts, a process that’s typically done through leukapheresis.

What is leukapheresis?

Leukapheresis is a procedure doctors use to quickly lower high white blood cell counts in children with leukemia. It involves taking out a large amount of blood, removing the extra white blood cells, and then returning the cleaned blood to the child’s body. This process uses a large machine that requires inserting large tubes (catheters) into veins and often sedating the child to keep them still.

Leukapheresis challenges for kids with leukemia

For infants and very young children, traditional leukapheresis can be risky and sometimes isn’t possible. Their small size makes it hard to use the necessary equipment safely. In these cases, doctors have to manually draw and discard blood over several hours, which is stressful and less effective. Even for older children, the procedure requires sedation and carries risks associated with handling large volumes of blood.

How microfluidic technology can help

Microfluidic devices work by moving tiny amounts of fluid through small channels — about the width of a human hair — allowing precise control and separation of different components in the blood. At Texas Children’s, Fong Lam, MD, FAAP, a pediatric intensivist, assembled a team of bioengineer, clinical, and data science researchers to explore how this technology can be used to perform cell separation directly from whole blood without the need for large machines or significant blood removal.

Potential benefits of the new approach

• Less blood needed: The microfluidic method uses much smaller amounts of blood, making it safer for infants and young children.
• Reduced need for sedation: Because the procedure is less invasive, children may not need to be sedated, lowering the risks associated with anesthesia.
• Bedside treatment: The compact size of microfluidic devices means they may be able to be used right at the child’s bedside, allowing for quicker treatment without moving the child to different hospital areas.

Research and testing

The research team has conducted successful tests in the lab and with animal models. In these studies, the microfluidic devices effectively and selectively removed white blood cells while preserving other important blood components. These promising results suggest that this technology could offer a safer and more comfortable alternative to traditional leukapheresis. While these findings are encouraging, more research is needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of microfluidic leukapheresis in children. Our goal is to develop a less invasive, safer alternative to traditional methods, improving the quality of care for children with leukemia.​

At Texas Children’s, we’re committed to advancing medical innovations that enhance patient outcomes and comfort. We’ll continue to keep our community informed as we progress in this vital research endeavor.