Center For Sickle Cell Disease Archive

News

• Studies Investigate New Trends And Treatment Options For Sickle Cell Disease Patients. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology highlights intriguing studies on the acute danger that the H1N1 pandemic presents for children with this blood disorder, evaluations of both new and standard treatments for common complications of sickle cell disease, and an expansion of the current understanding of hemoglobin expression in red blood cells that may lead to new treatments. Press Release from the American Society of Hematology (posted December 6, 2009)

• H1N1 More Risky Than Seasonal Flu In Children With Sickle Cell Disease. Infection with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu in children with sickle cell disease, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Health news from Johns Hopkins Medicine (article posted November 26, 2009).

• Barriers To Pain Treatment In Children With Sickle Cell Disease Revealed By New Study. A new study by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, found a substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for pain and other sickle cell disease complications in children. Barriers to its use on the part of both providers and patients were also identified. Health news from Medical News Today (article posted 12/7/09)
  

• Initiative Could Result In Paradigm Shift In The Care Of Sickle Cell Patients. The Medical College of Georgia is leading an initiative that could result in a paradigm shift in the care of patients with sickle cell disease. Health news from Medical College of Georgia (article posted November 26, 2009)
  

• Study Targets Stroke Prevention In Children With Sickle Cell Anemia. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators were recently awarded a $23 million federal grant to launch a national study of the drug hydroxyurea to prevent first strokes in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The effort will be the fifth at St. Jude involving hydroxyurea to treat children with SCA. Health news from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (article posted October 29, 2009)
  

• Sickle Cell Anemia Complications Can Be Reduced With Targeted Treatments. Sickle cell anemia is a potentially debilitating disease, but according to a Geisinger physician targeted treatments and coping methods are available to ease the pain and reduce the chance for complications. Health news from Geisinger Health System (article posted October 13, 2009)

• Endothelin Receptor May Play Role In Sickle Cell Pain. Agonizing physical pain, known as vaso-occlusive pain, can afflict children who have sickle cell disease (SCD). In some cases infants as young as two months of age suffer vaso-occlusive pain so severe that opiate medications and hospitalizations are their only relief. Breaking news from Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (article posted September 11, 2009)

• Painkillers In The Management Of Sickle Cell Disease Assessed. from Health News from Medical News Today. The first UK based research project assessing the management of acute pain in sickle cell disease has been commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of red blood cells, which affects over 12,000 people in the UK. Health news from National Institute for Health Research (article posted September 6, 2009)

• New Drug To Treat Sickle Cell Crisis Begins Pilot Study In Patients. GlycoMimetics, Inc. (GMI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing a new class of glycobiology-based therapies for a broad range of indications, announced that a pilot study of the company's lead candidate, GMI-1070, is underway in sickle cell patients. The first patients in this pilot study were treated at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California. Press Release from Glycomimetics, Inc. (article posted September 6, 2009)

• Study Of Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment In Sickle Cell Patients Halted By NHLBI. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped a clinical trial testing a drug treatment for pulmonary hypertension in adults with sickle cell disease nearly one year early due to safety concerns. Press Release from NHLBI News Room (posted July 28, 2009)

• Children With Sickle Cell Disease Need A Good Night's Sleep. Children with sickle cell disease tend to have interrupted sleep many times during the night leaving them tired and irritable during the day. It may be because the oxygen levels in their blood are reduced or they tend to have enlarged adenoids and tonsils, which can interfere with breathing at night. Health news from Barts and The London NHS Trust (article posted July 6, 2009)

• Schools Failing Children With Sickle Cell. The lack of awareness in schools is having a serious impact on the education of children with Sickle Cell, according to research published in the British Education Research Journal this month. Sickle Cell is a blood disorder that is named after the distinctive shape formed by the red blood cells of people with the condition. It affects one in every 2,000 children born in England. Health news from De Montfort University (article posted June 17, 2009)

• Following Encouraging Results Anthera To Continue IMPACTS Trial For The Prevention Of Acute Chest Syndrome In Patients With Sickle Cell Disease. Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced today that after completing its review of safety and efficacy data from the first cohort of 30 patients, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that Anthera’s Phase II clinical trial, known as the IMPACTS (Investigation of the Modulation of Phospholipase in Acute ChesT Syndrome) Study can continue under the current protocol based on favorable interim results (article posted March 24, 2009)

• NAAC Releases New Slide Set For Iron Deficiency Anemia. The National Anemia Action Council (NAAC) announced today the addition of a new educational presentation about iron deficiency anemia available on their website, www.anemia.org. Created by NAAC's anemia experts, the Iron Deficiency Anemia slide set is the latest in a series of free, downloadable presentations designed to educate healthcare professionals about anemia management practices. National Anemia Action Council (article posted March 5, 2009)

• Cord Blood Transplantation, Even Unrelated And Mismatched, Can Still Help Children With Deadly Conditions. An unrelated cord blood transplant, even from a mismatched donor, can be effective in treating children with a host of life-threatening diseases and disorders including cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other genetic diseases, according to researchers in the Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. Duke Medicine News and Communications (article posted 2/16/2009)

• Sickle cell awareness in churches increases black blood donors. Sickle cell researchers in St. Louis say they've significantly increased blood donations to fight the disease with appeals targeted at predominantly black church congregations in the city. Health news from Columbiamissourian.com (article posted 12/18/08).

• Sickle Cell Survival Depends on Hospital, Coverage. People with sickle cell disease have a greater chance of surviving hospitalization for complications of the hereditary blood disorder if they are insured and are treated in facilities experienced in their care, a study found. Health news from Bloomberg.com (article posted 12/11/08).

• American Society Of Hematology Annual Meeting Late-Breaking Data. Four studies highlighting late-breaking research advances in the treatment of cancer and sickle cell disease were presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco, CA. Health news from Medical News Today (article posted 12/8/08)

• Ultrasound Screening Helps Prevent Stroke In Children With Sickle Cell Disease. Screening with an ultrasound machine has proved highly successful in preventing stroke among children with sickle cell disease, by identifying children who are then preventively treated with blood transfusions. Health news from Medical News Today (article posted 12/8/08).

• Gene Behind Childhood Anemias Found. Scientists have identified a gene mutation that inhibits the production of fetal hemoglobin and causes two life-threatening anemias -- sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Biotech news from Medicinenet.com (article posted 12/7/08).

Return to Homepage