Active clinical trials for "Anemia, Sickle Cell"

The purpose of this study is to determine and confirm the role of bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of disorders of the red cell and hemoglobin including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and diamond blackfan anemia.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relative bioavailability of a single 300 mg dose of GBT440 administered as a high strength (1 × 300 mg) capsule versus a low strength (3 × 100 mg) capsule formulation in healthy fasted subjects.

Sickle cell disease causes kidney damage with increasing age, leading to chronic kidney disease and renal failure in nearly one third of patients with sickle cell disease. Currently, there is no treatment for sickle cell related kidney disease.

Nitric oxide is important in regulating blood vessel dilation, and consequently, blood flow. This gas is continuously produced by cells that line the blood vessels. It is also transported from the lungs by hemoglobin in red blood cells. This study will examine how this gas regulates blood vessels and blood flow in people with sickle cell anemia. It will also look at a possible benefit of using certain genetic information to compare the white blood cells of people with sickle cell anemia to those without the disease. Patients with sickle cell anemia and healthy normal volunteers 18 to 65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, cardiovascular physical examination, electrocardiogram and routine blood tests. Participation of volunteers without sickle cell anemia will be limited to a single blood draw for genetic study. Sickle cell disease patients will undergo the following procedures: Patients will lie in a reclining chair during the study. After administration of a local anesthetic, small tubes will be inserted through a needle into the artery and vein of the patient's forearm. These are used to measure blood pressure and draw blood samples during the study. Forearm blood flow will be measured using pressure cuffs placed on the wrist and upper arm, and a strain gauge (a rubber band device) placed around the forearm. When the cuffs are inflated, blood flows into the arm, stretching the strain gauge, and the flow measurement is recorded. A small lamp will be positioned over the hand. Light reflected back from the hand provides information about nitric oxide and hemoglobin in the blood of the skin. A squeezing device called a dynamometer will be used to measure handgrip strength. Baseline blood flow, nitric oxide, hemoglobin, and handgrip will be measured after an infusion of glucose (sugar) and water. These measurements will be repeated at various times before, during and after administration of small doses of the following drugs: Sodium nitroprusside - causes blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow to the heart Acetylcholine - causes blood vessels to dilate and slows heart rate LNMMA - decreases blood flow by blocking the production of nitric oxide There will be a 20- to 30-minute rest period between injections of the different drugs. When the above tests are completed, the patient will breathe a mixture of room air and nitric oxide for 1 hour through a facemask placed over the face, after which forearm blood flow and light reflected from the hand will be measured. Then the patient will do the handgrip exercise for 5 minutes, after which blood flow and hand lamp measurements will be taken. After a 20-minute rest period (with continued breathing of room air/nitric oxide), L-NMMA will be infused again. The handgrip exercise, blood flow and hand lamp measurements will be repeated. The face mask will then be removed, and the tubes will be removed 20 minutes later. Blood samples will be collected at various times during the 5- to 6-hour study through the tubes in the arm. Some of the blood will be used to look at genes that make proteins involved in cell-to-cell communication, inflammation, and in making red and white blood cells stick to the lining of blood vessels.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most frequent inherited disease in the world. Literature reports that SCD patients display intolerance to exercise, important muscle weakness and profound remodeling of skeletal muscle including amyotrophy and rarefied microvascular network. Because strenuous exercise induces acidosis, hemorheological alterations, endothelial activation and oxidative stress, it constitutes a potential triggering factor of sickling and vaso-occlusive crisis. As a consequence, physical activity is usually discouraged in patients with SCD. However, moderate and regular physical activity seems to be not only safe but also beneficial for SCD patients.

The primary objectives of this prospective mixed-method interview study are to use semi-structured interviews in parents of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients to describe parental attitudes of research involving genomic sequencing, including concerns about participation and expectations from researchers and to use surveys to quantitatively measure genetic/genomic knowledge, trust in health care provider, and literacy/numeracy ability in parents of children with SCD and adolescents with SCD. Investigators hope to use the results of the planned surveys and interviews to reduce the risk of misunderstanding about DNA and genetic research and build strong relationships between SCD families and researchers in the future, and to design educational information and study materials that will help parents with children with SCD understand important details about DNA and genetic research.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that cerebral velocities assessed by transcranial doppler (TCD) are more significantly decreased by SCT than by long-term transfusion program A multicenter, national, non-randomized, prospective study of paired cohort will be conducted, with 2 groups of exposed (SCT) and non-exposed (TP) patients.

To determine the pharmacokinetics of methadone in children and adults with SCD who are experiencing a painful episode.

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in sickle cell disease participants with a history of Vaso-occlusive Crises (VOCs). Approximately 60 participants with sickle cell disease will be enrolled and randomized: 12 participants in each of four active novel formulation rifaximin groups and 6 participants in each of 2 placebo groups.

This study will test the hypothesis that Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B) restores autonomic balance and reduces pain and other symptoms among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).The specific aims of this study are to: (1) conduct a randomized, wait list controlled, pilot intervention trial to determine whether HRV-B increases HRV coherence among SCD participants (minimum N of 30, up to 50 total); (2) determine whether HRV-B reduces pain, stress, fatigue, depression or insomnia among SCD participants; and (3) determine whether increases in HRV coherence are associated improvements in pain, stress, fatigue, depression, or sleep among study participants.