Persistent elevation of fetal hemoglobin following chemotherapy in sickle cell disease

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92111/1/24106_ftp.pd

Transfusional Iron Overload in Sickle Cell Anemia

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72471/1/j.1749-6632.1989.tb24225.x.pd

Stability over time of hematological variables in 197 children with sickle cell anemia

One hundred ninety-seven children with sickle cell anemia were followed for 4 years at the Wayne State Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center to evaluate the stability of the hematological variables (Hb, Hct, RBC count, MCV, %HbF and %HBA 2 ) over time. The mean values of the hematological measurements taken during three separate 16-month intervals were used to represent an individual's values. The correlations of the hematological variables between intervals ranged from a low of 0.46 for %HBA 2 to a high of 0.91 for %HbF. Correlations that spanned two intervals (an average of 32 months) were of the same magnitude as those that spanned only one interval (an average of 16 months), suggesting that there was no decrease in the degree of stability of these variables as the time between measurements increased. The stability of the correlations between variables within intervals, and the stability of the coefficients of the first two principal components of the six hematological variables over time suggested that the relationships among variables were also stable. In a recent report [Odenheimer et al, 1983], we used the values of the six hematological variables collected at an individual's first visit to the sickle cell center to identify four hematologically distinct subgroups of children. In the current report, we found that as many as 83% of the individuals remained in the same subgroup in at least two of the three follow-up intervals, suggesting that the factors that contributed to this classification were the result of stable, rather than transient phenomena.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38236/1/1320180316_ftp.pd

Serum Cystatin-C Levels in Infants with Sickle Cell Anemia: Baseline Data from the BABY HUG Trial

Abstract Background: BABY HUG is an NHLBI/NICHD sponsored double-blind placebo-controlled trial (NCT00006400) testing the hypothesis that hydroxyurea therapy (HU), if started early in life, will prevent or postpone organ damage to the spleen and kidney in infants with sickle cell anemia (SCA). All BABY HUG subjects at entry have GFR measured by 99mTc-DTPA radioisotope clearance (DTPA) and estimated using the Schwartz formula, a calculation based on serum creatinine (Cr) and height of the patient (GFR = κ (height)/Cr); κ=0.55 for children age >1 to 13 yr or 0.45 for term infants to age 1 yr. Measurement of GFR in infants is problematic due to difficulties in obtaining urine specimens and venous access. While Cr is a well-established marker for GFR it is not independent of body mass and may be secreted by renal tubules, leading to an overestimate of GFR. Cystatin C (CysC) is a cysteine protease inhibitor produced by all human nucleated cells and freely filtered by the kidney. Serum levels are not affected by muscle mass or gender and stable from age 18 mo to 50 yr, with higher levels in newborns reflecting a lower GFR. CysC offers a more practical and perhaps more accurate measure of GFR than Cr, especially in children with SCA. Normal non-SCA values are 0.5 to 1.4 mg/L. Formulas are published to translate serum levels of CysC to GFR as conventionally reported. Our aim was to determine usual and mean CysC levels in infants with SCA and compare CysC to DTPA and Cr-based assessments of GFR. Methods: Sera obtained and frozen during the eligibility screening phase of BABY HUG were used to determine CysC levels by particle enhanced immune nephelometry. Results: A total of 152 sera from infants age 9–17 mo (mean 13.5) were available. CysC levels ranged from 0.532 to 1.369 mg/L (mean 0.92; median 0.907), approximating the normal range. CysC was strongly and inversely associated with GFR estimated by DTPA (R2=0.086; p=0.001). CysC was also significantly associated with age (inversely, p=0.02), Schwartz GFR (using κ=0.55) (inversely, p=0.007) and Cr (p=0.01), but not with Hb, HbF or WBC count. GFR determined using two CysC-based formulae and the Schwartz formula were compared to GFR by DTPA. GFR Formula GFR* R-square P-value Regression slope *(mean ± SD in ml/min/1.73m2);99mTc-DTPA GFR=123.67±33.72 ml/min/1.73 m2 GFR in non-SS infants age 1–1.5 yr by 51Cr-EDTA clearance: 91.5±17.8 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Piepsz A et al. Eur J Nucl Med Imag2006;33:1477) Schwartz, κ=0.55 191.11±57.85 0.062 0.036 0.141 Schwartz, κ=0.45 154.80 ± 54.06 0.052 0.0123 0.172 CysC (1) 84.45±19.11 0.18 0.0026 0.149 CysC (2) 102.78±25.09 0.16 0.0029 0.196 GFR determined using CysC-based formula 2: GFR = antilog {1.92 + [1.123 × log (1/CysC)]} gave mean values closest to DTPA and similar to published estimates of GFR in non-SCA infants. The Schwartz formula overestimated GFR, especially when the higher κ was used. While correlations are low due to high GFR variability, the four GFR determinations all have a significant association with DTPA. However, because the slopes of the regression lines are not close to 1 (line of equality), measurement agreement with DTPA is poor. Conclusion: The Schwartz formula overestimated GFR in BABY HUG subjects. CysC-based GFR formulae underestimate GFR compared to concurrent DTPA values, but results are similar to published norms. Reports of hyperfiltration, based on creatinine-based determination of GFR, may be exaggerated. The impact of hydroxyurea therapy on CysC levels, if any, will be apparent at completion of the trial in late 2009

Transfusional iron overload in children with sickle cell anemia on chronic transfusion therapy for secondary stroke prevention

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90419/1/22228_ftp.pd

Renal Function in Infants with Sickle Cell Anemia: Baseline Data from the BABY HUG Trial

Abstract BABY HUG is an NHLBI/NICHD-sponsored Phase III randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT00006400) to test the hypothesis that hydroxyurea can prevent chronic organ damage in very young children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Renal and splenic function measures are the co-primary endpoints. Renal disease in SCA begins early in life with impaired urine concentration and acidification, along with glomerular hyperfiltration; some patients will progress to microalbuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, macroalbuminuria, and even renal failure. In BABY HUG, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) elevation was selected as a primary endpoint, to be measured quantitatively by plasma clearance of injected 99mTc-DTPA and also estimated by the Schwartz equation where GFR = (height × 0.55)/(serum creatinine), with creatinine measured by HPLC to .01 mg/dL precision. Of 233 enrolled subjects, 193 completed screening and were randomized to study treatment. Quantitative GFR measurement was successful in most cases: 176 of 182 (97%) of DTPA clearance studies were adequate and 157 subjects had both baseline DTPA and Schwartz GFR values available for analysis. The average age at GFR measurement was 13.7 ± 2.6 months (range 9–19 months) and 59% of subjects were female. Baseline mean (± 1SD) hematological parameters included hemoglobin = 9.0 ± 1.4 gm/dL, absolute reticulocytes = 295.3 ± 137.4 × 109/L, WBC = 14.3 ± 5.8 × 109/L, and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) = 25.6 ± 8.8%. Baseline past medical history included dactylitis (34%), splenic sequestration (7%), and acute chest syndrome (5%). The average baseline quantitative GFR measurement determined by DTPA clearance was elevated at 125.4 ± 34.4 mL/min/1.73m2, (range 40.2 – 300.9 mL/min/1.73m2, normal value 100 ± 20 mL/min/1.73m2). The average baseline GFR estimate by Schwartz equation was substantially higher at 193.9 ± 53.8 mL/min/1.73m2, range 65.8 – 350.0 mL/min/1.73m2. In univariate analysis, the DTPA GFR value was positively correlated with the Schwartz GFR estimate (r=0.22, p=0.0059, slope=0.145) as well as age, weight, height (all p≤.001) but not with hemoglobin, HbF, WBC, reticulocytes, previous sickle cell-related events, or measures of splenic function including liver-spleen scan and quantitation of pitted erythrocytes and micronuclei. The Schwartz GFR estimate was positively correlated with age, height, WBC, and splenic function, and negatively correlated with hemoglobin and HbF. Using a quantitative GFR threshold of 120 mL/min/1.73m2 and an age threshold of 15 months, higher GFR values were observed in older infants, p=0.026. These data indicate that renal dysfunction measured by GFR elevation may begin early in life in SCA; quantitative GFR measurement is feasible but highly variable in this very young patient population; (3) the Schwartz and DTPA GFR values are strongly correlated, but the Schwartz estimate is usually greater and only modestly agrees with the quantitative DTPA GFR value. These baseline GFR measurements in BABY HUG support the hypothesis of age- and disease-related glomerular hyperfiltration in SCA. BABY HUG should yield important information regarding the ability of hydroxyurea to prevent renal damage among infants with SCA

Effect of Hydroxyurea Treatment on Renal Function Parameters: Results from the Multi-Center Placebo-Controlled BABY HUG Clinical Trial for Infants with Sickle Cell Anemia

BACKGROUND: Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) often develop hyposthenuria and renal hyperfiltration at an early age, possibly contributing to the glomerular injury and renal insufficiency commonly seen later in life. The Phase III randomized double-blinded Clinical Trial of Hydroxyurea in Infants with SCA (BABY HUG) tested the hypothesis that hydroxyurea can prevent kidney dysfunction by reducing hyperfiltration. PROCEDURE: 193 infants with SCA (mean age 13.8 months) received hydroxyurea 20 mg/kg/day or placebo for 24 months. (99m)Tc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) clearance, serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, urinalysis, serum and urine osmolality after parent-supervised fluid deprivation, and renal ultrasonography were obtained at baseline and at exit to measure treatment effects on renal function. RESULTS: At exit children treated with hydroxyurea had significantly higher urine osmolality (mean 495 mOsm/kg H(2)O compared to 452 in the placebo group, p=0.007) and a larger percentage of subjects taking hydroxyurea achieved urine osmolality >500 mOsm/kg H(2)O. Moreover, children treated with hydroxyurea had smaller renal volumes (p=0.007). DTPA-derived glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not significantly different between the two treatment groups, but was significantly higher than published norms. GFR estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Schwartz formula was the best non-invasive method to estimate GFR in these children, as it was the closest to the DTPA-derived GFR. CONCLUSION: Treatment with hydroxyurea for 24 months did not influence GFR in young children with SCA. However, hydroxyurea was associated with better urine concentrating ability and less renal enlargement, suggesting some benefit to renal function

Hydroxyurea Treatment of Young Children with Sickle Cell Anemia: Safety and Efficacy of Continued Treatment – the BABY HUG Follow-up Study

Abstract Abstract 7 BABY HUG [Clinical Trials #NCT00006400], an NIH-NICHD sponsored randomized placebo-controlled trial showed that hydroxyurea (HU) administered to 9–18 month old children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) provides substantial clinical benefit. Benefits include a decrease in pain crises, acute chest syndrome events, need for transfusion and hospital admission; hematologic improvement include higher total and fetal hemoglobin concentration, larger red cell size, and lower WBC counts with toxicity limited to transient reduction in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) [Lancet 2011; 377:1663–72]. The parent or guardian of all 176 children who completed at least 18 months of randomized treatment were offered participation in an initial observational BABY HUG Follow-Up Study and 163 (93%) consented to participate. Clinical and laboratory data were collected every 6 months by structured abstraction of the medical record regarding use of clinically prescribed HU (dose escalation recommended), blood counts, clinical imaging, and sickle cell-related events. At the time of enrollment the family did not know their child's randomized study treatment assignment; 133 (82%) initially chose clinical prescription of open-label HU. Acceptance of HU has remained high through 36 months of follow-up; during each 6 month data collection period 68–75% of participants reported having taken HU. Only 2 patients have left the study (due to relocation) and more than 93% of expected data have been collected. Preliminary analyses as of May 2011, including 417 patient years (pt-yrs) of follow up, demonstrate that in comparison to participants not taking HU, children who continue to take HU have statistically lower rates of pain crises requiring emergency department (ED) visits, episodic transfusions, and hospital admissions for any reason, including acute chest syndrome or febrile illness (see table). The substantial decrease in acute chest syndrome episodes is similar to the effect demonstrated with HU use in the randomized BABY HUG trial in younger infants and consistent with published trials detailing the benefit of HU therapy in older children and adults. The decrease in the rate of admission for febrile events in HU-treated patients is also comparable to that in the randomized trial, but the reason for this benefit is uncertain. There was no difference in hospitalization rates for painful events including dactylitis. Two patients in the non-HU group had a stroke. There were no differences between groups in the frequency of a palpable spleen or rate of acute splenic sequestration crises. Through 36 months of follow up children taking HU had persistently higher hemoglobin and MCV, and lower WBC and ANC than those not taking HU. Results of these analyses including growth and development assessments will enhance our understanding of the impact of HU use in children with SCA starting at a very young age. The accruing data from the BABY HUG Follow-Up Study demonstrate a continuation of the substantial benefits of early HU therapy with no discernable additional toxicities. Ongoing follow up of this cohort is essential to fully define these benefits as children grow, and to observe for late toxicity.Event Rate per 100 pt-yrsHUNo HUp valueED visit for Pain Crisis28.853.60.004Episodic Transfusion18.334.00.010Hospital Admission (any cause)74.9133.20.001Acute Chest Syndrome (admission)9.522.30.0001Febrile Illness (admission)30.764.3<.001Pain Crisis (admission)18.630.40.102 Disclosures: Off Label Use: Hydroxyurea is not indicated for treatment of children with sickle cell disease. Use of this medication was for clinical indications and not mandated by this observational study