Silent Cerebral Infarct Transfusion Multi-Center Clinical Trial
Condition: Sickle Cell Anemia; Stroke
MeSH terms: Cerebral Infarction; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Infarction
Intervention: transfusion therapy
Intervention description: Those in the blood transfusion group will receive at least monthly blood transfusion therapy.
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Enrollment: 196.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 5 Years
Maximum age: 14 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: silent cerebral infarct; silent stroke; sickle cell anemia; stroke; transfusion therapy

Summary:

      The goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of blood transfusion therapy for
      prevention of silent cerebral infarct (stroke) in children with sickle cell anemia.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        INCLUSION:

          -  Patient must have sickle cell anemia (hemoglobin SS) or sickle beta thalassemia
             (hemoglobin SB) as confirmed at the local institution.

          -  Participating institutions must submit documentation of the diagnostic hemoglobin
             analysis to the Statistical and Clinical Coordinating Centers to confirm the diagnosis
             of sickle cell anemia prior to randomization.

          -  Patient must be 5 through 14 years of age.

          -  Patient must have a cerebral infarct documented by MRI scan as read by the
             neuroradiology panel.

          -  Informed consent with assent in accordance with the institutional policies
             (institutional Institutional Review Board approval) and Federal guidelines (approved
             by the United States Department of Health and Human Services) must be signed by the
             patient's legally authorized guardian acknowledging written consent to join the study.
             When suitable, patients will be requested to give their assent to join the study.

        EXCLUSION:

          -  Patient with a history of a focal neurologic event lasting more than 24 hours with
             medical documentation or a history of prior overt stroke.

          -  Patients with a transcranial doppler (TCD) study with a time-averaged mean velocity
             greater than 200 cm/sec verified by the study radiologist.

          -  Patients with other neurological problems, such as neurofibromatosis, lead poisoning,
             or tuberous sclerosis.

          -  Patients with HIV infection.

          -  Pregnancy.

          -  Patients who received treatment with anti-sickling drugs or hydroxyurea within 3
             months or anticipate receiving anti-sickling drugs or hydroxyurea during the course of
             the study.

          -  Abnormal kidney function (creatinine > 2x upper limit of normal).

          -  Patients on chronic blood transfusion therapy for other reasons.

          -  Patients judged not likely to be compliant by his/her hematologist and local nurse
             coordinator based on previous compliance in clinic appointments and following advice.
             Specifically, families that have missed at least two appointments without notification
             within 12 months prior to the trial or parents of potential patients that have been
             reported for medical or education neglect are not eligible for this trial.

          -  Patients unable to receive blood transfusion because of alloimmunization.

          -  Patients with permanent or semi-permanent metallic (braces on teeth) structures
             attached to their body. Such patients cannot obtain a MRI of the head to assess the
             presence of silent cerebral infarcts.

          -  Siblings randomized in the trial.