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Sponsored by: |
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) |
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Information provided by: | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00001203 |
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;
Condition |
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Diabetes Mellitus Heart Disease Hemochromatosis Thalassemia |
Study Type: | Observational |
Official Title: | Clinical Course of Patients With Transfusional Hemochromatosis on Deferoxamine |
Estimated Enrollment: | 165 |
Study Start Date: | April 1985 |
The purposes of this protocol are two-fold: 1) to determine whether deferoxamine, given subcutaneously on a regular basis, can indefinitely prevent the cardiac, endocrine and hepatic complications of transfusional hemochromatosis; and 2) to determine whether cardiac disease can be reversed by intensive intravenous treatment in patients who already have objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction. The clinical manifestations and course of patients who require regular blood transfusions is well established. Those with congenital anemias who require transfusions from birth develop cardiac disease in their teens and their mean of survival is only 17 years. Adults with acquired anemias begin to exhibit cardiac manifestations of iron deposition after 100-200 units of packed red cells. Deferoxamine, when given by the subcutaneous route, has been shown to reduce substantially the total iron burden in thalassemic patients. Our results indicate that cardiac complications are delayed or prevented. We plan to continue to follow our cohort of patients on optimal medical management to determine if chelation alters disease outcome. Patients with heavy iron burdens who already manifest cardiac disease will be chelated intensely to determine whether reducing the iron burden is associated with reversal of cardiac complications.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 4 Years and older |
Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Patients studied under this protocol will be at risk for or have evidence of significant excess tissue iron.
Most patients will be on regular blood transfusion secondary to either congenital or acquired anemia.
The majority of patients have homozygous beta thalassemia.
Patients with sickle cell anemia will be included only when there is an absolute indication for regular blood transfusions (e.g., a history of stroke).
Twenty to thirty adults with acquired anemia and good long-term prognosis will be accepted for study if chelation can be initiated early in their transfusion history (less than 30-50 units).
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Such patients will be excluded from study if they have diabetes or cardiac disease due to another cause (coronary artery or valvular heart disease).
Study ID Numbers: | 850087, 85-H-0087 |
Study First Received: | November 3, 1999 |
Last Updated: | January 7, 2009 |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00001203 |
Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Desferal Thalassemia Liver Iron Concentration Endocrine Evaluation |
Diabetes Mellitus Cardiac Disease Acquired Anemia |
Heart Diseases Metabolic Diseases Hematologic Diseases Anemia Diabetes Mellitus Hemochromatosis, type 3 Endocrine System Diseases Anemia, Hemolytic Iron Metabolism Disorders Thalassemia Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital |
Metabolism, Inborn Errors Genetic Diseases, Inborn Hemoglobinopathies Hemochromatosis Endocrinopathy Iron Overload Hemoglobinopathy Metabolic disorder Glucose Metabolism Disorders Iron Deferoxamine |
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Iron Chelating Agents Cardiovascular Diseases Chelating Agents |
Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors Pharmacologic Actions Siderophores |