View clinical trials related to Hematologic Diseases.
Filter by:In recent decades, hematologists have noticed that persons of African descent sometimes have lower white blood cell counts of a certain type, called granulocytes. These cells help to fight infections. The lower number of granulocytes in this situation does not appear to lead to more infections, and these individuals do not have any symptoms. This condition is called benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN), and is observed in a small percentage of individuals of African descent. This study will investigate the condition by studying people with and without BEN. The goals of this study are to: 1. identify individuals of African descent with BEN. 2. determine the effects of two drugs, G-CSF and dexamethasone, on granulocyte production and movement. 3. determine whether there are differences in those with and without BEN in the way genes are stimulated after the administration of G-CSF and dexamethasone. Study participants will be asked to interview with the research team, undergo physical exams, donate a blood sample, and receive G-CSF by injection, followed by dexamethasone (orally) about three weeks later. They also will be required to undergo apheresis three times, a procedure in which blood is drawn from a donor and separated into its components. Some components are retained for research analyses, such as granulocytes, and small amount of blood; the remainder is returned by transfusion to the donor. This procedure will be required of participants before they receive G-CSF, the day after they receive G-CSF, and the day after they receive dexamethasone. Gene messages (mRNA will be isolated from granulocytes, and analyzed to better understand granulocyte growth and movement.
To use transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound to detect stroke risk in children with sickle cell disease.
Patients are being asked to participate in this study because they have a cancer in their blood, Fanconi's Anemia, or have been unsuccessfully treated for bone marrow failure such as Aplastic Anemia or Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. Any of these conditions could benefit from an allogeneic stem cell transplant using a donor that is related to the patient. Stem cells are created in the bone marrow. They grow into different types of blood cells that the patient needs, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In a transplant, the patient's own stem cells are killed and then replaced by stem cells from the donor. Usually, patients are given very strong doses of chemotherapy prior to receiving a stem cell transplant. However, because of the patient's condition, they have a high risk of experiencing life-threatening treatment-related side-effects. Recently, some doctors have begun to use chemotherapy that does not cause as many side-effects before patients receive a transplant. This research study adds CAMPATH 1H to a low-dose chemotherapy regimen, followed by an allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We want to see whether adding CAMPATH 1H to the transplant medications helps in treating the disease. We also want to see whether there are fewer life-threatening side-effects from the treatment. CAMPATH 1H is a drug that is still being studied. CAMPATH 1H stays active in the body for a long time after patients receive it, which means it may work longer at preventing graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) symptoms.
Participants in this study have a hematologic malignancy (a disorder in the bone marrow that affects the body's ability to create blood) that might benefit from receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant (meaning the cells come from a donor) from a family member or nearly identical matched donor. The donor may either be a matched sibling, a mismatched family member, or an unrelated person. Usually these patients are given high doses of chemotherapy before receiving a stem cell transplant to keep their immune system from rejecting the donor stem cells and to kill any diseased cells that remain in the body. However, this group of patients have a high risk of developing possibly life-threatening treatment-related side effects such as infections, damage to vital organs such as lungs, liver, kidney and heart, as well as graft versus host disease (GVHD). Instead of the high dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy usually given before a transplant, this research study uses a new pre-transplant combination of three drugs, Fludarabine, Anti-CD45 and CAMPATH-1H with low dose radiotherapy. Fludarabine is a chemotherapy drug while Anti-CD45 and CAMPATH-1H are antibodies against certain types of blood cells, including those which are causing this disease. CAMPATH-1H is particularly important because it stays active in the body for a long time after it is given, which means it may work longer to prevent GVHD symptoms. Anti-CD45 may help in eradicating residual malignant cells. All these agents also help in preventing rejection of donor stem cells. This study is designed to give a less intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so that the life-threatening toxicities of conventional high dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimen can be reduced, while maintaining the ability to cure cancer.
To establish a link among Chlamydia infection, sickle cell anemia, and stroke risk.
To measure the variability in pain and response to pain in sickle cell disease, and to build multivariate models to explain both patients' pain and their response to pain, especially, utilization of health care.
To investigate a modified hematopoeitic cell transplantation (HCT) procedure for sickle cell disease that significantly reduces the toxicity of HCT, yet retains its therapeutic benefit.
This study will develop a national cord blood bank for siblings of patients with hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia.
The purpose of this network is to accelerate research in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by comparing novel therapies to existing ones.
To define the natural history, immunologic, and genetic factors that influence the clinical outcome of hepatitis C in a cohort of hemophilic siblings.