Active clinical trials for "Thalassemia"

To investigate, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the retinal and choriocapillaris vascular features in patients affected by Beta Thalassemia. Moreover we analyzed the structural retinal parameters (ganglion cell complex and retinal nerve fiber layer), using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in these patients

Iron overload, which can be defined operationally as too much iron in the body, develops as a consequence of too many blood transfusions given, or due to genetic defects hereditary hemochromatosis). Iron accumulates in several organs in the body, such as the heart, liver, endocrine glands (pancreas, thyroid, etc.), and spleen. Excessive iron can damage organs and may even cause death. Iron overload needs to be appropriately monitored and treated to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality. The present study, GENIOS, proposes to test prospectively the hypothesis that genetic modifiers influence the iron overload status of patients receiving transfusions. To test this hypothesis, the study will perform genetic studies to investigate possible genetic influences for iron accumulation in the body and will study iron accumulation not only in the liver, but also in the heart, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen. In addition: the study will investigate if these same genes have any role during treatment of iron overload, in other words, if certain genetic mutations will influence how iron exits the body. This study will also investigate how substances that are known to control the trafficking of iron in and out of the body and its damaging effects to the tissues (hepcidin and non transferrin-bound iron) are linked to the accumulation of iron in the heart and liver. Iron in the body will be measured by R2*MRI and no liver biopsies will be required. Genetic studies will be done by specialized tests using peripheral blood DNA. Iron accumulates differently in different people and in different organs of the body. Some people accumulate iron faster than others, even when receiving the same number of blood transfusions

Fludarabine is a chemotherapy drug used extensively in bone marrow transplantation. The goal of this study is to determine what causes some children to have different drug concentrations of fludarabine in their bodies and if drug levels are related to whether or not a child experiences severe side-effects during their bone marrow transplant. The hypothesis is that clinical and genetic factors cause changes in fludarabine drug levels in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients and that high levels may cause severe side-effects.

The purpose of this study is to provide accurate prognostic data linking cardiac complications to myocardial T2* values (A measure of iron levels in the heart using MRI)in patients predisposed to heart iron overload.

The purpose of the TCRN is to accelerate research in the management of thalassemia, standardize existing treatments, and evaluate new ones in a network of clinical centers in North America. The emphasis will be on clinical trials that help identify optimal therapy. Therapeutic trials may involve investigational drugs, drugs already approved but not currently used, and drugs currently used.

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric measurements in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia children in Pakistan. The secondary aim was to correlate serum ferritin with the physical growth

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.

Thalassemics can develop liver fibrosis because of iron overload and hepatitis C infection. The latter is the main risk factor for liver fibrosis in transfusion dependent thalassemics. Excess liver iron is clearly recognized as a co factor for the development of advanced fibrosis in patients with hepatitis virus C infection. Magnetic resonance imaging represents the most available noninvasive technique to assess the level of iron in the liver.there is evidence that suggests Spirulina may help to protect against liver damage, cirrhosis and liver failure in those with chronic liver disease.

The purpose of this study is to initiate pilot studies to demonstrate that a sufficient number of iron-overloaded thalassemia, SCD and DBA populations with similar duration of chronic transfusion, and age at start of transfusions would be available for a confirmatory study and to validate that proposed multicenter MRI and biochemical studies can be completed. The study will examine the hypothesis that a chronic inflammatory state in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) leads to hepcidin- and cytokine-mediated iron withholding within the RES (reticuloendothelial system), lower plasma NTBI (non transferrin bound iron) levels, less distribution of iron to the heart in SCD.

Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders that can cause anemia and other health problems. The goal of this study is to collect information on complications of the disease among people who currently have or previously had thalassemia.