Clinical Trials

This study will collect representative blood samples from healthy children and adults and from children and adults who have unique red blood cell features that are related to sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a blood disease that limits the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. The purpose of the study is to collect a variety of blood samples that may then be used to investigate advances and potential new drug treatments for sickle cell disease.

Red Blood Cell - IMProving trAnsfusions for Chronically Transfused recipients (RBC-IMPACT) is an observational cohort study to assess donor, component, and recipient factors that contribute to RBC efficacy in chronically and episodically transfused patients. The objective of the study is to determine how specific genetic and non-genetic factors in donors and recipients may impact RBC survival after transfusion - in short, what factors on both the donor and recipient side may improve the efficacy of the transfusion.

Pain is the most common component of the morbidity seen in sickle cell disease (SCD), and may be acute or chronic. It is most commonly acute and a result of the hallmark vaso-occlusive episodes of the disease. Many patients however suffer from chronic pain - defined as pain lasting over three months- with neuropathic pain being a component of chronic pain. Neuropathic pain significantly contributes to the chronicity and morbidity of pain in SCD patients, and is an inadequately managed complication.

This multisite prospective study seeks to determine if HLA-identical sibling donor transplantation using alemtuzumab, low dose total-body irradiation, and sirolimus (Sickle transplant Using a Nonmyeloablative approach, "SUN") can decrease the toxicity of transplant while achieving a high cure rate for children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

The objective of this study is to determine if a subject's genetic make-up would affect the treatment response to codeine in subjects with sickle cell disease.

The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of SCThrive, a an innovative, technology-enhanced, group self-management intervention that uses a mixed in-person and online format and supported by a tailored mHealth tool, iManage. The study will also evaluate the initial efficacy of SCThrive for increasing behavioral activation (BA) in adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) ages 13 to 21.

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is similar to severe pneumonia and is a common cause of hospitalizations for people with sickle cell disease (SCD). Blood transfusions are one treatment option for ACS. High levels of an enzyme called secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) may be present in people before they develop ACS. This study will determine how well sPLA2 levels can predict the onset of ACS and whether identifying high sPLA2 levels allows enough time to prevent ACS with blood transfusions.

Sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetically transmitted blood disease, necessitates life-long care. In children, the disease may cause intense pain and other severe complications. Studies show that sources of stress, as well as complex psychological and intercultural issues associated with SCD, often aggravate symptoms. At Louis Mourier hospital, the treatment model used is systematic psychological and medical care. Our hypothesis is that this care is beneficial for both the children and their families as seen in improved quality of life and positive impact on medical symptoms.

To reduce episodes of first time stroke by 75 percent in children with sickle cell anemia by the administration of prophylactic transfusion therapy.

Symptomatic sickle cell disease is worldwide the most frequent cause for hereditary hemolytic anemia with recurrent pain crisis. Hemolysis, vaso- occlusive and pain crises are hallmarks of this disease and are causative for an important socio-economic burden worldwide, especially in Africa.