Iron Supplementation, Response in Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Analysis of Five Trials.

Background: Oral iron-replacement therapy is the mainstay of treatment for iron-deficiency anemia, but it is often poorly tolerated or ineffective. Hemoglobin response at day 14 of oral iron may be useful in assessing whether and when to transition patients from oral to intravenous (IV) iron.

Methods: Pooled data from 5 randomized trials were analyzed to compare oral and IV iron-replacement therapy for iron-deficiency anemia.

National trends in hospitalizations for sickle cell disease in the United States following the FDA approval of hydroxyurea, 1998-2008.

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) can suffer frequent hospital admissions for painful vasoocclusive crises. Hydroxyurea was approved by the FDA in 1998 to decrease the morbidity of SCD, but nationwide hospitalizations for SCD in the United States since 1998 have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that the availability of hydroxyurea for SCD would be associated with a decrease in hospitalizations for SCD over time.

Sickle cell vaso-occlusion causes activation of iNKT cells that is decreased by the adenosine A2A receptor agonist regadenoson.

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) agonists reduce invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell activation and decrease inflammation in sickle cell disease (SCD) mice. We conducted a phase 1 trial of the A2AR agonist regadenoson in adults with SCD. The target dose was 1.

Sickle cell disease (SCD), iNKT cells, and regadenoson infusion.

A humanized murine sickle cell-disease (SCD) model (NY1DD) has been used to study ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in sickle cell anemia, and iNKT cells (a very small subset of murine and human T cells) have been found to instigate such injury in this model. Furthermore, levels of activated iNKT cells are generally elevated in the circulation of patients with SCD. Because activated iNKT cells are rich in adenosine A2A receptors which, when agonized, down-regulate the inflammatory cytokine expression that characterizes the cells, we have conducted a phase 1 trial of a constant infusion of low-dose regadenoson (an adenosine analogue with high A2A receptor specificity) to determine its safety and the capacity of a safe dose to down-regulate circulating iNKT cells in patients with SCD.

Comparative rates of adverse events with different formulations of intravenous iron.

Oral iron replacement is the standard therapy in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). However, 59% of patients have gastrointestinal toxicity. With impaired iron uptake from the gastrointestinal tract (in anemia of chronic disease (ACD) or after bariatric surgery), suboptimal responsiveness to exogenous erythropoietin (in chronic renal failure), in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, or when oral iron is poorly tolerated, IV iron therapy is the preferred mode of repletion.

Novel approaches to the treatment of sickle cell disease: the potential of histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe genetic disorder of hemoglobin causing vaso-occlusion. Patients suffer severe anemia, strokes, renal failure, pulmonary compromise and shortened life expectancy. Over 90,000 people in the USA have SCD, and the options for therapy are limited and only partially effective.

Refining the value of secretory phospholipase A2 as a predictor of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease: results of a feasibility study (PROACTIVE).

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is defined as fever, respiratory symptoms and a new pulmonary infiltrate in an individual with sickle cell disease (SCD). Nearly half of ACS episodes occur in SCD patients already hospitalized, potentially permitting pre-emptive therapy in high-risk patients. Simple transfusion of red blood cells may abort ACS if given to patients hospitalized for pain who develop fever and elevated levels of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2).

Anemia in pregnancy.

Anemia in pregnancy is a global health problem affecting nearly half of all pregnant women worldwide. High fetal demands for iron render iron deficiency the most common cause of anemia of pregnancy, with other micronutrient deficiencies contributing less frequently. In certain geographical populations, human pathogens such as hookworm, malarial parasite and human immunodeficiency virus are important factors in anemia of pregnancy.

Nitric oxide for inhalation in the acute treatment of sickle cell pain crisis: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Inhaled nitric oxide has shown evidence of efficacy in mouse models of sickle cell disease (SCD), case series of patients with acute chest syndrome, and 2 small placebo-controlled trials for treatment of vaso-occlusive pain crisis (VOC).

Objective: To determine whether inhaled nitric oxide gas reduces the duration of painful crisis in patients with SCD who present to the emergency department or hospital for care.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for up to 72 hours of inhaled nitric oxide gas vs inhaled nitrogen placebo in 150 participants presenting with VOC of SCD at 11 centers between October 5, 2004, and December 22, 2008.