View clinical trials related to Hematologic Diseases.
Filter by:This study will determine eligibility for participation in research studies on blood disorders conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases. Healthy volunteers, patients with blood disorders under study by NHLBI and NIDDK and potential stem cell donors for patients with blood disorders who are 8 years of age and older may be eligible for this screening protocol. (Healthy volunteers who qualify for research protocols would serve as control subjects.) Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Healthy Volunteers - Medical history, physical examination, blood tests and urine sample collection. - Buccal mucosa sample collection. (Cells are collected from the inside of the cheek by gentle scraping with a bristly brush.) - Bone marrow aspiration (only for volunteers 18 years of age and older). Potential Stem Cell Donor -Same as for healthy volunteers plus evaluations that may include electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, imaging studies (X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and others), heart evaluation, and lung function tests. Patient with Blood Disorder - Same as for stem cell donors plus additional evaluations and treatments that may include radiation oncology evaluation, catheter placement, blood transfusions, kidney and liver biopsies. Short courses of drug treatment for induction of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell patients, and/or iron chelation in patients receiving chronic red cell transfusions may be included as well.
Many hematological disorders are treated by giving red blood cells. Over a long period of time iron from the red blood cell will accumulate in the tissues of the heart, liver, and endocrine glands. This condition is referred to as iron overload and may become life threatening due to the effects of the iron on these tissues. The normal method for evaluation of iron overload is a liver biopsy. This procedure is invasive and has potential risks, such as bleeding and infection. It is very desirable to establish a method for assessing iron overload which is not invasive. New magnet resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation techniques (T2*MRI) can be used to indirectly assess the liver iron content and iron in the heart. Results of T2*MRIs show excellent correlation with liver iron content and heart function. The use of this method of assessment will minimize the risk and inconvenience of liver biopsy and possibly allow more frequent evaluations for iron overload, thus better treatment for these patients. Participants in this study will undergo both liver biopsy for liver iron content and T2* MRI of the liver and the heart. Results from the procedures performed in this study will be compared, with the end result being the possible elimination of invasive procedures to diagnose iron overload.
The purpose of this study is to provide allogeneic stem cell transplantation to patients who have not traditionally undergone this procedure because of it high incidence of treatment related side effects. We hope to decrease these side effects by decreasing the chemotherapy dose prior to transplant (non-myeloablative, smaller dose of chemotherapy given so bone marrow is not completely eliminated) and by using donated stem cells to treat cancer of the blood.
To determine the safety/efficacy of Bivallirudin Vs unfractionated heparin (UFH) on top of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with high tendency for bleeding during urgent and elective PCI.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of prophylactic treatment on the number of joint bleeds and quality of life in severe hemophilia A subjects compared to on-demand treatment in a one-group two-treatment schedule design. In addition, the effect of prophylactic treatment on the joint function, the number of all bleeds, and on the quality of life compared to on-demand treatment and health-economic data will be assessed.
To evaluate engraftment and toxicity of a reduced intensity preparative regimen for patients who receive a matched related or unrelated donor allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT) for malignant hematological diseases
A SpetiFast multiplex PCR kit has recently been placed on the market witch can evidence the DNA of 90% of micro-organisms (bacteria and fungus) implicated in sepsis. However, the clinical impact of being able to detect the DNA of these various agents is unknown. We propose to assess the benefit to patient care of the SeptiFast multiples PCR by answering three questions : 1/in patients with septic immunosuppression, does this kit evidence etiologic agents not revealed by classical methods? 2/Does the use of PCR results permit different diagnostic hypotheses to be considered? 3/Does having the SeptiFast results entail changes to the therapeutic plan?
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation may provide long-term remissions for some patients with hematological malignancies. However, allogeneic transplantation is associated with a significant risk of potentially life threatening complications due to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the body and the risks of serious infection. In addition, patients may develop a condition called Graft versus host disease that arises from an inflammatory reaction of the donor cells against the recipient's normal tissues. The risk of graft versus host disease is somewhat increased in patients who are receiving a transplant from an unrelated donor. One approach to reduce the toxicity of allogeneic transplantation is a strategy call nonmyeloablative or "mini" transplants. In this approach, patients receive a lower dose of chemotherapy in an effort to limit treatment related side effects. Patients undergoing this kind of transplant remain at risk for graft versus host disease particularly if they receive a transplant from an unrelated donor. The purpose of this research study is to examine the ability of a drug called CAMPATH-1H to reduce the risk of graft versus host disease and make transplantation safer. CAMPATH-1H binds to and eliminates cells in the system such as T cells that can cause graft versus host disease (GvHD). As a result, earlier studies have shown that patients who receive CAMPATH-1H with an allogeneic transplant have a lower risk of GvHD. In the present study, we will examine the impact of treatment with CAMPATH-1H as part of an allogeneic transplant on the development of GvHD and infection. In addition, we will study the effects of CAMPATH-1H on the immune system by testing blood samples in the laboratory.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of CPAP in the prevention of acute respiratory failure in neutropenic ( or hematologic malignancy ) patients .CPAP applied preventively in hematological patients with high risk of ARF may reduce:need for intubations and mechanical ventilation, incidence of pneumonia and sepsis,mortality,length of ICU and hospital stay
Totally implanted venous access ports allow a safe delivery of medication, mainly chemotherapy, but are also used for blood sampling. This last procedure is not always successful, as it appeared from a nurse's survey in different hospitals in Flanders, including the University Hospitals in Leuven, Belgium. In 3 to 29 percent of the attempts, blood withdrawal is impaired or not possible, as an intermittent or permanent fact. This is in line with international literature data where difficulty in blood draw was noted in 6 to 26% of port accessions. Partial or total occlusion leads to discomfort for the patient, delay in therapy, higher costs and extra nursing time. A new port system with a tangential outlet (Vortex port) was designed and according to the manufacturer, this shape will allow to cleanse the entire reservoir of the port more efficiently and avoid the formation of precipitates of medication or blood that could lead to an obstruction of the device. These precipitates are also regarded as a potential risk factor for infection. However, only one previously published small randomised study addressed the value of the Vortex port when compared to conventional access devices: Stevens et al. were able to show a reduction in obstruction incidence from 26% to 7% with the use of the Vortex port. The incidence of blood withdrawal problems in our experience with conventional ports in University hospitals Leuven was 8% thus lower than that reported by Stevens, but this remains the most frequent problem faced by care providers and patients. With this study, the investigators aim to compare the performance of the tangential outlet ports and that of a "conventional" port in order to assess an eventual functional difference.