Treatment Trials

9 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions

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Safety and Efficacy of Deferasirox (ICL670) in Patients With Iron Overload Resulting From Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Description

Brief Summary: This study was designed to explore a safe dose and characterize the preliminary safety and efficacy of ICL670 in adult patients with previously documented history of homozygous C282Y.

Conditions

Iron Overload, Hereditary Hemochromatosis

A Study of LJPC-401 for the Treatment of Iron Overload in Adult Patients With Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Description

This study is a Phase 2 multicenter, randomized, placebo controlled, single-blind study. The primary objective of the study is to compare the effect of weekly dosing of LJPC-401 (synthetic human hepcidin) versus placebo on transferrin saturation (TSAT) in an adult hereditary hemochromatosis patient population.

Conditions

Hereditary Hemochromatosis

MRI QSM Imaging for Iron Overload
Description

The overall goal of this project is to develop and validate a novel technique for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) of the abdomen, for non-invasive assessment of liver iron deposition. In this work, study team will develop and optimize advanced data acquisition and image reconstruction methods to enable QSM of the abdomen. Further, investigators will determine the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of abdominal QSM for iron quantification in patients with liver iron overload. Excessive accumulation of iron in various organs, including the liver, which affects both adult and pediatric populations, is toxic and requires treatment aimed at reducing body iron stores. Accurate assessment of liver iron concentration is critical for the detection and staging of iron overload as well as for longitudinal monitoring during treatment. In summary, this project will develop a novel MRI-based QSM technique designed for the abdomen and will validate it in pediatric and adult patients with liver iron overload. Upon successful validation, QSM will provide accurate, repeatable, and reproducible quantification of LIC based on a fundamental property of tissue.

Conditions

Hemochromatosis, Iron Overload

Iron Overload in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Description

The goal of this study is to examine the impact of iron overload in patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant. We believe that the iron status in these patients is associated with complications for transplant survivors. We will examine the iron status in these patients by MRI and by screening for mutations in genes known to cause iron overload. We will also determine the levels of hepcidin (a hormone produced in the liver that appears to regulate iron homeostasis) from blood and urine.

Conditions

Iron Overload

Oral Nifedipine to Treat Iron Overload
Description

This study will determine if nifedipine, a medication used to treat high blood pressure, can help treat iron overload, a condition in which the body contains too much iron. Iron overload can be caused by the body's inability to regulate iron or by medical treatments, such as multiple blood transfusions. Over time, it can cause problems with the liver, heart and glands. Treatments include reducing iron intake in the diet or removing the excess iron using medical therapies. Recently, nifedipine was found to cause iron loss in the urine of small animals. This study will see if the drug can increase the removal of iron into the urine in humans as well. People 18 years of age and older with iron overload may be eligible for this study to undergo the following procedures: Study Day 1 Participants come to the NIH Clinical Center for a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (heart ultrasound). Study Day 2 Participants will collect three urine samples: one is collected over 4 hours, followed by a second over 4 hours. Both of these samples are collected at NIH in the outpatient day hospital. At home, a third urine sample will be collected over 16 hours. For 1 week before the collections, participants are asked not to drink tea or eat foods high in Vitamin C or iron. They are also asked not to take any iron chelating medications. Study Day 3 Participants repeat the same urine collections as on day 2. They collect a 4-hour urine sample at the outpatient day hospital at NIH. They will then take a 20-mg tablet of nifedipine, and remain in the clinic 4 hours for blood pressure monitoring. A second urine sample during this time. They then return home to collect the final 16-hour sample, which they bring to the clinic the following day. Again, they are instructed to avoid a diet high in vitamin C, iron rich foods, tea, and to avoid taking any iron chelating medications. ...

Conditions

Thalassemia, Iron Overload, Hemochromatosis

Treatment of Hemochromatosis
Description

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.

Conditions

Hemochromatosis

Iron Overload in African Americans
Description

Iron overload (hemochromatosis) is a condition which causes the intestines to take too much iron into the body from food or pills. The extra iron can build up in the liver, heart, joints, pancreas, sex organs, and other organs. Patients with iron overload can feel well initially, but the iron will eventually damage organs and may lead to an early death. The condition is believed to be passed down from generation to generation. Many studies have been conducted on the condition as it affects Caucasian Americans, few have addressed the condition in African Americans. Researchers believe it is important to find out as much as possible about the iron overload in African Americans. The goal of this study is to determine the pattern of inheritance of primary iron overload in African American families and to identify the genetic defect causing the condition. The study will use various tests from simple blood testing (transferritin saturation and serum ferritin levels) to complex genetic tests (segregation analysis and polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\]). The tests will help researchers deterimine iron levels in the blood, presence of antigens that may help trace inheritance, and detect changes in genes that are known to cause iron overload in Caucasians. The study may not directly benefit the patients participating in it. However, this study may lead to improved methods to diagnose iron overload in the African American population as a whole.

Conditions

Hemochromatosis, Iron Overload

Confounder-Corrected Quantitative MRI Biomarker of Hepatic Iron Content
Description

The purpose of this multi-site research is to validate a rapid magnetic resonance based confounder-corrected R-2 mapping method as a quantitative imaging biomarker of liver iron concentrations.

Conditions

Iron Overload, Hemochromatosis, Hemosiderosis

Massive Iron Deposit Assessment
Description

Iron overload is a severe complication of multiple blood transfusions. As the body has no physiologic mechanism for clearing iron, repeated transfusions cause iron accumulation in organs and lead to iron toxicity. Accurate assessment of iron overload is paramount to quantify excessive iron accumulation and to monitor response to iron chelation therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods have been used to noninvasively measure hepatic iron concentration (HIC). Although MRI-based measurements of transverse relaxation rates (R2 and R2\*) accurately predict biopsy-proven HICs below 15 mg Fe/g, previous studies have shown that their precision is limited for HICs above 15 mg Fe/g and inaccurate above 25 mg Fe/g. Current R2\* gradient-echo (GRE) MR techniques fail occasionally for very high iron overloads (HIC \~ 15-25 mg Fe/g) and always for massive iron overloads (HIC \> 25 mg Fe/g) because R2\* is so high that the MR signal decays before it can be measured accurately. Overall accrual: 200 patients Purpose: To determine if a new MRI (UTE) can measure the amount of iron in the liver of people with large amounts of iron and compare the results with the same patient's liver bx. Estimated patient accrual is 150. It is estimated that 41 of these patients will have clinical indication for liver biopsy.

Conditions

Iron Overload, Excessive Body Iron Burden