Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that causes the red blood cells to
change their shape from a round shape to a half-moon/crescent or sickled shape. Sickle-shaped
cells can cause problems by getting stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow, and can
cause inflammation and injury to important body parts. There are no specific treatments that
improve this condition and promote blood flow hindered by sickle cell blockages. Another big
challenge in managing sickle cell disease is that there are no good measures to determine
changes and improvements in blood flow.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a technique currently used to detect blood flow in the heart,
muscles, and other organs. It is extremely sensitive and can detect blood flow in the
smallest of blood vessels. It would be very useful in helping healthcare providers know
whether treatment strategies are improving blood flow during sickle cell blockages.
The hypothesis is that contrast-enhanced ultrasound will be a feasible tool for determining
changes in blood flow of subjects with sickle cell disease.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Blood Center of Wisconsin Versiti
Collaborators:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology Medical College of Wisconsin Oregon Health and Science University University of Illinois at Chicago