Arginine Treatment of Acute Chest Syndrome (Pneumonia) in Sickle Cell Disease Patients

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2005-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This is a study to determine if oral arginine will increase nitric oxide in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with acute chest syndrome (ACS). It will also assess the effects of arginine in the body and how the body uses nitric oxide in ACS.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland; UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

• Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (Hb SS, SC, or Sbeta thalassemia)

Acute chest syndrome with the following:

• New pulmonary infiltrate on chest radiography involving a full segment of the lung and 1 of the following:

• Fever

• Cough, tachypnea, retractions, rales, or wheezing

• Chest pain

Exclusion criteria:

• Inability to take or tolerate oral medications

• Hepatic dysfunction (SGPT greater than 2 times normal)

• Renal dysfunction (creatinine greater than 2 times normal)

• Mental status or neurological changes

• Allergy to arginine

• History of priapism

• Pregnancy