View clinical trials related to Hemosiderosis.
Filter by:Because patients with beta-thalassemia are unable to actively eliminate iron from the body, toxic and eventually lethal levels of iron can accumulate as a result of repeated blood transfusions. This study will evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of deferasirox.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether deferiprone has superior efficacy in removing excess iron from the heart when compared with deferoxamine.
This study will examine the effect of iron buildup in the hearts of patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a genetic disease that causes the body to accumulate excess amounts of iron. The excess iron can damage the heart, liver, pancreas, skin, and joints. Generally, early treatment with phlebotomy (periodic removal of a unit of blood), and in some cases chelation (using a drug to remove iron from the body) slows down organ damage in HH patients. This study will try to elucidate the effect of iron buildup in the heart and determine if phlebotomy and chelation help keep the heart healthy. Patients with HH and healthy volunteers 21 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. (Normal volunteers will provide normal values of heart function that will be used to verify abnormalities detected in HH patients.) Patients must have a gene abnormality of Hfe gene Cys282Try homozygote. They may or may not be receiving treatment for HH and they must have no heart symptoms or serious organ damage due to HH. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter EKG (24-hour EKG monitoring, see description below), and chest x-ray. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures over 2 to 5 days: - Exercise test: The participant exercises on a treadmill while wearing a mouthpiece, which is used to measure how much oxygen is used. Electrodes placed on the chest and arms monitor the heartbeat during the test. - Echocardiography: This ultrasound test uses sound waves to take pictures. A small probe is held against the chest to allow a technician to take pictures of the heart and assess its function. A drug called Optison may be injected in an arm vein if needed to enhance the ultrasound images. - Exercise stress echocardiography: The participant exercises on a stationary bike while heart function is measured with an echocardiogram, EKG, and blood pressure cuff. - 24-hour Holter EKG: The participant wears a small machine that records heart rhythm continuously for 24 hours. The recorder is connected by cables to electrodes placed on the chest. - Magnetic resonance imaging: This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to obtain detailed images of the heart and blood vessels. The participant lies flat on a table that slides inside the scanner, which is a large hollow tube. All tests are performed once in normal volunteers and in patients who have received standard treatment for HH. Untreated patients repeat the tests 6 months after beginning phlebotomy or chelation. Additional time points for these tests might be added if further evaluation is needed.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the new orally active iron chelator, ICL670, is as safe as deferoxamine in preventing accumulation of iron in the body while a patient is undergoing repeated blood transfusions.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a test called MCV in guiding phlebotomy (blood drawing) therapy in patients with hemochromatosis an inherited disorder that causes too much iron to be absorbed by the intestine. The excess damages body tissues, most severely in the liver, heart, pancreas and joints. Because iron is carried in the hemoglobin of red blood cells, removing blood can effectively lower the body s iron stores. Patients with hemochromatosis undergo weekly phlebotomy treatments (1 pint per session) to deplete iron stores. This usually requires 10 to 50 treatments, after which blood is drawn every 8 to 12 weeks to prevent a re-build up of iron. A test that measures ferritin a protein involved in storing iron is commonly used to guide phlebotomy therapy in hemochromatosis patients. This study will compare the usefulness of the ferritin test with that of MCV, which measures red blood cell size, in guiding phlebotomy therapy. In addition, the study will 1) examine whether keeping iron levels low during maintenance therapy can help heal severe liver disease and improve arthritis in affected patients, and 2) design a system for making blood collected from hemochromatosis donors available for transfusion into other patients. Patients 15 years and older with diagnosed hemochromatosis or very high iron levels suggesting possible hemochromatosis may be eligible for this study. Candidates will have a history, physical evaluation, review of medical records and blood tests, and complete a symptoms questionnaire. Participants will have the following procedures: - Phlebotomy therapy every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on iron levels - Blood sample collection for blood cell counts and iron studies at every phlebotomy session - Blood sample collection (about 2 tablespoons) every 1 to 2 weeks after iron stores have been depleted - Phlebotomy every 8 to 12 weeks after iron stores are used up to prevent re-build up of excess iron With each blood donation that will be made available for transfusion to other patients, participants will answer the same health history screening questions and undergo the same blood tests given to all regular volunteer blood donors. These include screening for the HIV and hepatitis viruses and for syphilis. Patients who meet height and weight requirements may be asked to consider "double red cell" donations using apheresis. In this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein, similar to routine phlebotomy. The blood then circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The red cells are removed and the rest of the blood is returned to the body, either through the same needle or through a second needle in the other arm. Patients who have very high iron levels or an enlarged liver will be offered evaluation by the NIH Liver Service. Those judged to be at increased risk for cirrhosis may be advised to undergo a liver biopsy. If cirrhosis is found, the patient will be asked to consider a repeat biopsy after 3 to 5 years of continuous iron depletion to see if scarring has improved. Patients with arthritis will be offered evaluation by the NIH Arthritis Service and, depending on symptoms, may be advised to have X-ray studies or a joint biopsy.