Active clinical trials for "Thalassemia"

When patients receive repeated blood transfusions the level of iron in the patient s blood can rise. When iron is processed in the body a protein known as hemosiderin can begin collecting in the organs. If too much hemosiderin collects in the organs they can begin to malfunction. This condition is called transfusional hemochromatosis. An organ of particular importance in transfusional hemochromatosis is the heart. Patients born with diseases requiring blood transfusions at birth begin to develop heart problems in their teens. These patients typically only live for 17 years. Adults that require transfusions can begin experiencing heart problems after 100-200 units of backed red blood cells. Deferoxamine (Desferal) is a drug that binds to iron and allows it to be excreted from the body. It is the only effective way to remove iron from patients who have been overloaded with iron because of multiple transfusions. Previous studies have lead researchers to believe that deferoxamine, when given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous), can be delay or prevent heart complications. Researchers plan to continue studying patients receiving deferoxamine as treatment for the prevention of heart complications associated with repeated blood transfusions. In this study researchers will attempt; To determine if deferoxamine, given regularly, can indefinitely prevent the heart, liver, and endocrine complications associated with transfusional hemochromatosis To determine whether heart disease caused by transfusional hemochromatosis can be reversed by intensive treatment with deferoxamine.

Fludarabine and clofarabine are chemotherapy drugs used extensively in bone marrow transplantation. The goal of this study is to determine what causes some children to have different drug concentrations of clofarabine and 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 individual factors cause changes in clofarabine and 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 evaluate the basiliximab for prevention of graft-versus-host disease in unrelated allo-genetic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major. The objective was to evaluate the effect and safety of basiliximab for acute graft-versus-host disease.

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. Transient elastography (Fibroscan) is a reliable non invasive method for diagnosing as liver fibrosis in thalassemic patients regardless of the degree of iron overload. There is evidence that suggests Spirulina may help to protect against liver damage, cirrhosis and liver failure in those with chronic liver disease.

The investigators propose that patients with HbSβ-thalassemia have lower levels of hepcidin and higher levels of GDF-15 than HbSS patients during the non-crisis, "steady states." In addition, the investigators propose that when controlled for RBC transfusion, patients with HbSβ-thalassemia will have higher levels of storage iron (based on serum ferritin). Participants: Total number of subjects is 42 - 21 subjects with HbSS, and 21 subjects with HbSβ-thalassemia ). Procedures (methods): Eligible subjects with documented SCD (HbSS, HbS-β 0-thalassemia or HbS-β+-thalassemia) followed at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program will be evaluated in this single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study. The patients will be screened for eligibility at the time of a routine sickle cell clinic visit. Patients' data will be obtained in person at the time of evaluation and through review of their medical records. Investigators will obtain information on SCD-related clinical complications and obtain an estimate of the number of lifetime RBC transfusions. Blood samples will be obtained for laboratory tests. Plasma samples for hepcidin, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF -15), and high-sensitivity CRP will be stored at -80 degrees Celsius until analysis. Other routine laboratory studies including complete blood count (CBC) with differential and reticulocyte count, serum iron profile and ferritin, and liver function tests will be performed at the clinical laboratories of UNC Hospitals.The subjects will have 30 ml. of blood drawn for this research study. Females of child bearing potential will have a urine pregnancy test at the time of the study.

The proposed research project will continue the application and development of a new method (biomagnetic susceptometry) that measures magnetic fields to determine how much iron is in the liver. The amount of iron in the liver is the best indicator of the amount of iron in the whole body. Measuring the amount of iron in the body is important because either too much (iron overload) or too little iron (iron deficiency) can be harmful. At present, the most reliable way to measure the amount of iron in the liver is to remove a sample of the liver by biopsy, either by surgery or by using a needle which pierces the skin and liver. Iron stored in the liver can be magnetized to a small degree when placed in a magnetic field. In patients with iron overload, the investigators previous studies have shown that magnetic measurements of liver iron in patients with iron overload are quantitatively equivalent to biochemical determinations on tissue obtained by biopsy. In the past the investigators have developed a device to measure the amount of magnetization, which was called a SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) susceptometer. This device was validated and in use for over 20 years. The safety, ease, rapidity and comfort of magnetic measurements make frequent, serial studies technically feasible and practically acceptable to patients. The investigators have now developed a new susceptometer, which uses very similar technology to the SQUID, but the investigators believe is more accurate and precise. This study aims to validate this new instrument. The investigators will do prospective, serial studies of the diagnosis and management of patients with iron overload, including thalassemia major (Cooley's anemia), sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, myelodysplasia, hereditary hemochromatosis, and other disorders. Funding Source - FDA OOPD.

Patients suffering from Thalassemia or another hemoglobinopathies required regular blood transfusions. The complications and adverse effects of blood transfusions can be classified as immediate and late. Among the immediate effects the most common are allergic reactions and fever, besides congestive heart failure in patients with cardiomyopathy. The late effects are mostly related to blood transmitted infections like HIV or Hepatitis C infections. The purpose of this study is to summarize the data of those complications in a cohort of 100 patients receiving regular blood transfusion.

The purpose of this study is to examine choroidal thickness in beta-thalassemia patients and compare it to the one of healthy controls. An equal number of transfusion dependent beta-thalassemic patients and age and sex matched healthy volunteers will undergo spectral-domain optical coherence tomography utilizing the enhanced depth imaging application to visualize and measure the choroid.

This is a multicenter observational case-control analysis lasting 12 months aimed at determining the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) in patients with Thalassemia Major and Intermedia. The patients will be followed, treated and examined according to the best standard clinical practice dictated by the Italian Society for the study of Hemoglobinopathies (SITE), Thalassemia International Federation (TIF)and the Task Force for Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension of European Society of Cardiology (ESC); European Respiratory Society (ERS); International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines.

This study intends to analyze the clinical characteristics of teenagers admitted to pediatric wards due to organic illness and non organic diagnosis, including patients suffering from chronic diseases and comorbidity.