Active clinical trials for "Anemia"

This study is for patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA). A stem cell transplant from a genetically matched sibling donor can help or cure this disease in 85 to 100 percent of patients. Stem cells are immature blood cells that grow to become red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. A genetic "match" means a brother or sister has same immune type (HLA type) as the patient. Unfortunately, few patients have a matched sibling donor. The chance of negative outcomes is much higher with other types of donors. This study will test the success of a new approach to stem cell transplant for SAA. Patients in this study will receive drugs and radiation treatment to destroy their diseased bone marrow and to prepare them for stem cell transplant. Bone marrow is the tissue inside the bones where stem cells are made.Stem cells will be harvested from the blood or bone marrow of genetically matched unrelated donors or partially matched family donors. The stem cells will be filtered using a new device that is currently under study. The patients will receive large doses of the filtered stem cells (stem cell graft). Researchers want to find out how the study treatment affects patients, the disease, and the chances for survival.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of epoetin alfa in the treatment of persistent anemia caused by advanced cancer and aggressive adriamycin-chemotherapy. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of epoetin alfa versus placebo for the treatment of anemia in AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) patients with anemia that is a result of this disease and zidovudine (AZT) treatment. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of epoetin alfa versus placebo in the treatment of persistent anemia caused by advanced cancer and aggressive cisplatin chemotherapy. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of epoetin alfa and to determine whether epoetin alfa will reduce the need for blood transfusions during the period of time around major orthopedic surgery. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of epoetin alfa versus placebo in reducing or preventing the need for transfusions in anemic patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, and to investigate possible quality-of-life benefits associated with the use of epoetin alfa. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the whether epoetin alfa stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and therefore increases a patient's ability to self-donate blood prior to major surgery. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

Correction of anaemia in renal transplant recipients by parenteral application of recombinant erythropoietin and if necessary iron will improve large artery function (endothelial function and elasticity), as assessed by ultrasound techniques and applanation tonometry. The changes in large artery function will be reflected by changes in serological markers of endothelial function and oxidative stress and by changes in monocyte function and apoptosis. There are gender differences in the responses of vascular function to correction of anemia. Besides improvement of large artery function, correction of anemia will also affect parameters of graft function, i.e. glomerular and tubular proteinuria.

This study will evaluate the safety and usefulness of a new immunosuppressive drug, alemtuzumab (Campath ), in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). SAA is a rare and serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow stops making red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that attaches to and kills white blood cells called lymphocytes. In certain types of aplastic anemia, lymphocytes are responsible for the destruction of stem cells in the bone marrow, leading to a decrease in blood counts. Because alemtuzumab destroys lymphocytes, it may be effective in treating aplastic anemia. Alemtuzumab is currently approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and is also helpful in other conditions that require immunosuppression, such as rheumatoid arthritis and immune cytopenias. Patients 2 years of age and older with severe aplastic anemia whose disease does not respond to immunosuppressive therapy or has recurred following immunosuppressive therapy may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Pretreatment evaluation: Patients have a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, 24-hour Holter monitor (continuous 24-hour monitoring of electrical activity of the heart), bone marrow biopsy (withdrawal through a needle of a small sample of bone marrow for analysis). Placement of a central line, if needed: An intravenous line (tube) is placed into a major vein in the patient's chest. It can stay in the body for the entire treatment period and be used to give chemotherapy or other medications, including antibiotics and blood transfusions, if needed, and to withdraw blood samples. Alemtuzumab therapy: Patients are admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for the first few injections for close monitoring of side effects. After receiving an initial small test dose, patients begin the first of ten daily injections under the skin, each lasting about 2 hours. Once patients tolerate the infusions with minimal or no side effects, they may be given the remaining infusions on an outpatient basis. Patients who relapse after their initial response to alemtuzumab are given cyclosporine to see if this drug will boost their immune response. Patients receive transfusions, growth factors, and antibiotic therapy, as needed. Infection therapy: Patients are given aerosolized pentamidine to protect against lung infections and valacyclovir to protect against herpes infections. A blood test is done and vital signs are measured every day while patients receive alemtuzumab. Patients have an echocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitor after the last dose of alemtuzumab. Blood tests are done weekly for the first 3 months after alemtuzumab administration, then every other week until 6 months. Patients return to the NIH for follow-up visits 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and yearly for 5 years after the last dose of alemtuzumab for the following tests and evaluations: Blood test Repeat echocardiogram at 3-month visit Repeat bone marrow biopsy 6 months and 12 months after alemtuzumab, then as clinically indicated for 5 years.

This single arm study will evaluate the maintenance of hemoglobin levels, safety and tolerability of once-monthly intravenous administration of Mircera in dialysis patients with chronic renal anemia. Patients will receive intravenous Mircera (120, 200 or 360 micrograms) every four weeks depending on the previous dose of epoetin alfa administered in the week preceding first study drug administration. Patients will be treated for 12 weeks with follow up 2 weeks after the last treatment visit. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is 100-500 individuals.