Conditions: Hemoglobinopathies Sickle Cell Disease Thalassemia
Keywords: Hemoglobinopathies Sickle cell anemia sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease sickle cell-B-thalassemia transfusion-dependant thalassemia allogeneic transplant nonmyeloablative transplant Stem cell transfusion graft vs. host disease
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 2
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with reduced-dose busulfex, fludarabine and alemtuzumab (CAMPATH) followed by sten cell infusion will allow for donor stem cells to grow in patients with hemoglobinopathies bone marrow and restore circulating blood counts. In addition the incidence and severity of side effects and of graft vs. host disease (GVHD) will be monitored.

Detailed description:
* In order to undergo transplant procedure, patients will be admitted to the hospital for approximately 10-14 days.
* To prepare patient's bone marrow to accept donor stem cells, they will receive fludarabine and busulfex. Fludarabine will be given intravenously once daily for 4 days. Busulfex will be given once daily for the same 4 days.
* One day before patients receive busulfex and fludarabine, they will also be given alemtuzumab intravenously once daily for 5 days.
* Three days after the end of chemotherapy, patients will receive the infusion of donor stem cells.
* If patients have thalassemia, they will receive subcutaneous injections of filgrastim starting on day one after the donor stem cell transfusion and will continue receiving filgrastim every day until it appears that the donor stem cells have been accepted. If the patient has sickle cell disease, filgrastim will not be given,
* Additional drugs will be given to help prevent infection (i.e. antibiotics).
* After stem cell infusion patients will be examined and have blood tests weekly for 1 month. Bone marrow biopsies, and blood work will also be performed 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after stem cell infusion.
* Patients will be on the study for about 12 months. After study is completed progress will be monitored on an annual basis.

Arms:

Interventions: intervention 1: Busulfex intervention 2: Fludarabine intervention 3: Alemtuzumab intervention 4: Stem Cell Transfusion
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Given once daily for 4 days intervention 2: Given intravenously once daily for 4 days intervention 3: One day before fludarabine and busulfex are started, alemtuzumab will be given once daily for 5 days. intervention 4: Performed three days after the end of chemotherapy

Protocol document: