Tocilizumab for Acute Chest Syndrome

Description

The investigators are evaluating the role of a low dose of tocilizumab in treating acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease. Tocilizumab inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and severe cytokine release syndrome, which can be seen with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and it is also authorized for treatment of COVID-19. Since IL-6 levels are elevated in the sputum of patients with acute chest syndrome, the investigators are hopeful that this will be an effective strategy. The investigators will be looking at how a low dose of tocilizumab affects oxygen status, clinical outcomes, and laboratory markers in patients admitted to the hospital with acute chest syndrome.

Conditions

Sickle Cell Disease, Acute Chest Syndrome

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The investigators are evaluating the role of a low dose of tocilizumab in treating acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease. Tocilizumab inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and severe cytokine release syndrome, which can be seen with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and it is also authorized for treatment of COVID-19. Since IL-6 levels are elevated in the sputum of patients with acute chest syndrome, the investigators are hopeful that this will be an effective strategy. The investigators will be looking at how a low dose of tocilizumab affects oxygen status, clinical outcomes, and laboratory markers in patients admitted to the hospital with acute chest syndrome.

Low-Dose Tocilizumab for Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease

Tocilizumab for Acute Chest Syndrome

Condition
Sickle Cell Disease
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chicago

University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Adults ≥ 12 years of age
  • * Prior diagnosis of sickle cell disease (Hb SS, Hb SC, Hb Sb+, and Hb Sb0)
  • * Pregnant patients or breastfeeding mothers.
  • * Prior treatment with gene therapy or a stem cell transplant.
  • * Current enrollment in a clinical trial involving an FDA-regulated drug or biologic.
  • * Current neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count \< 1000/mm\^3)
  • * Current thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 50,000 mm\^3)
  • * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) \> 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • * History of tuberculosis (TB).
  • * Positive purified protein derivative (PPD) TB screening test.
  • * On active therapy with a Bruton's tyrosine kinase-targeted agent, which include the following: Acalabrutinib, Ibrutinib, Zanubrutinib
  • * On active therapy with a JAK2-targeted agent, which include the following: Baricitinib, Ruxolitinib, Tofacitinib, Upadacitinib
  • * Any of the following biologic immunosuppressive agent (and any biosimilar versions thereof) administered in the past 6 months:

Ages Eligible for Study

12 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Chicago,

Austin Wesevich, MD, STUDY_DIRECTOR, University of Chicago

Study Record Dates

2026-01