Active clinical trials for "Anemia, Sickle Cell"

Many individuals with sickle cell disease experience both a poor quality of life and stigma. Individuals with SCD often experience high levels of stigma which can be a barrier to good self-management and hinder quality of life. The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the relationships between stigma, self-management, and quality of life in SCD in the United States and Jamaica. The findings from this project will contribute to the development of a tool to measure self-management strategies and will also guide the development of interventions to improve SCD self-management.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a worldwide distributed hereditary red cell disorder, which affects approximately 75,000 individuals in the United States and almost 20,000- 25,000 subjects in Europe, this latter mainly related to the immigration fluxes from endemic areas such as Sub-Saharian Africa to European countries. Studies of global burden disease have pointed out the invalidating impact of SCD on patient quality of life. This requires the development of new therapeutic options to treat sickle cell related acute and chronic complications. SCD is caused by a point mutation in the β-globin gene resulting in the synthesis of pathological hemoglobin S (HbS). HbS displays peculiar biochemical characteristics, polymerizing when deoxygenated with associated reduction in cell ion and water content (cell dehydration), increased red cell density and further acceleration of HbS polymerization. Pathophysiological studies have shown that dense, dehydrated red cells play a central role in acute and chronic clinical manifestations of SCD, in which intravascular sickling in capillaries and small vessels leads to vaso-occlusion and impaired blood flow with ischemic/reperfusion injury. In microcirculation, vaso-occlusive events (VOC) result from a complex and still partially known scenario, involving the interactions between different cell types, including dense red cells, reticulocytes, abnormally activated endothelial cells, leukocytes, platelets and plasma factors. Target organs, such as bone or lung, are involved in both acute and chronic clinical manifestations of SCD, related to their peculiar anatomic organization mainly characterized by sluggish circulation and relative local hypoxia. VOCs combined with marrow hyperplasia and inflammation has been suggested to contribute to the development of sickle bone disease (SBD). Recently, it has been proposed a possible role of vitamin D deficiency in SBD, which appears to be subordinated to the primary defect in bone homeostasis. In a humanized mouse model for SCD, we recently reported that SBD is due to imbalance between osteoblast/osteoclast activity induced by recurrent VOCs. In addition, we show that zoledronic acid prevents bone impairment related to SCD, reducing osteoclast activity and improving osteoblast performance.

In the context of the Risk Management Plan (RMP), as requested from Addmedica by the EMEA, to collect information about long-term safety of Siklos® (hydroxycarbamide) when used in patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been reported with a prevalence of approximately 30% in adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, with an increased mortality in SCD patients with PAH, compared with those without PAH. The identification of several hemolysis biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, reticulocytes or hemoglobin level, has clearly documented a link between hemolysis and PAH. However, other physiopathological mechanisms may be involved to explain PAH in these patients, such as pulmonary thromboembolism, pulmonary fibrosis or left heart diastolic and / or systolic dysfunction. The investigators suggest studying HTAP in patient's presenting the most frequent both drepanocytic syndromes, SS and SC and homogeneous in their medical coverage and the association between HTAP risk and specific SCD complications.

The overall goal of this proposed project is to 1) increase co-management between sickle cell specialists and primary care providers (PCP's); 2) increase the use of hydroxyurea (HU) which prevents Vaso-Occlusive Episode (VOE), EDs and subsequent hospitalizations, and death; 3) identify and link patients not receiving primary or SCD specialty care to care, and 4) shift healthcare use from EDs and hospitalizations to primary and specialty co-management. Many persons with SCD experience a poor quality of life, serious medical complications and frequent painful events that require treatment from SCD specialty care, primary care and emergency department (ED) providers. There are two dominating models of care in the United States; neither are ideal. Many people with SCD have all of their healthcare needs addressed by sickle cell specialists who do not typically provide primary care and are often geographically distant from the patients' home. Other sickle cell patients receive all of their care in EDs. Both models are inadequate and result in an alarmingly high number of ED visits for many patients. Current care models are neither cost efficient nor promoting optimal patient outcomes. To improve outcomes, the investigators will implement a new model of care for SCD using nurse care managers, web based-interactive algorithms, and test if additional patient provided coaching can improve outcomes.

The objective of this study is to design, implement and test quality improvement measures to improve the care of adults with sickle cell disease in the emergency department.

Pediatric patients with sickle cell disease are at greater risk for exhibiting nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) compared to the general population. This increased risk has been attributed to a decreased ability to concentrate urine caused by sickling-induced nephropathy. The sociodemographic, psychosocial, and medical factors associated with nocturnal enuresis are not well defined. In addition, the impact of these behaviors on emotional and behavioral functioning, along with health-related quality of life are not clear. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions for nocturnal enuresis, very few families with a child with sickle cell disease have utilized these methods. The reasons for this underutilization of interventions are not clear.

Purpose: Assess whether intensive training with education and daily remote monitoring with provider involvement has a lasting positive impact on adherence to medication management. The study will seek to enroll 25 subjects with sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and less than 100% compliance for taking iron chelators in the previous three month prior to participation in the study. Subjects will be asked to monitor their daily iron chelator administration by taking a video recording of preparing it and ingesting at least one sip. Subjects will also use a medication log to record daily administration of medication, and meet with study staff monthly for educational activities. The data collected will be analyzed to describe patient adherence and comfort level with the process of daily recording of medication management. Mean percent adherence in the pre-study periods and each of the study periods will be analyzed and compared.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for neurobehavioral problems because of the impact the disease can have on the central nervous system. Specific impairments in working memory are particularly prevalent in school-aged children with SCD. Working memory is more strongly associated with school readiness and academic success than intellectual ability in the general population. The adverse effects of low socioeconomic status (SES) and poverty on cognition and neurodevelopment emerge early, before children have entered formal education. In addition, they affect language and executive function skills (e.g., working memory) more than other skills. SES is a proxy variable for other risk factors. Higher SES is associated with less parental stress, more supportive parenting practices, and better cognitive stimulation based on the availability of books, computers, and outings. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine working memory and school readiness in young children with sickle cell disease in comparison to demographically matched control children without sickle cell disease. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships of family/environmental factors (caregiver stress, parental responsiveness, and cognitive stimulation in the home) and disease severity to working memory and school readiness skills in preschool-aged children with SCD.

The purpose of this research study is to determine the frequency and severity of iron overload in patients with Sickle Cell Anemia and its relationship to blood vessel function. The investigators hypothesize that intermittent transfusions that these patients receive during hospitalizations produces significant iron overload and impairs blood vessel relaxation.