Arginine treatment for sickle cell pain in children
1/2 Sickel Cell Disease Treatment with Arginine Therapy (STArT Trial)
This research tests whether IV L-arginine given to children hospitalized for sickle cell pain can lower pain and reduce opioid use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11186997 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child with sickle cell disease is admitted for a painful vaso-occlusive episode, they may be randomly assigned to receive IV L-arginine every eight hours for several days or a placebo without knowing which one they get. Doctors and nurses will track pain scores, how much opioid medicine is needed, length of hospital stay, and blood markers tied to blood vessel function. The approach builds on an earlier small randomized trial that saw big drops in opioid use and lower pain at discharge. This is a larger, pivotal phase intended to confirm those results across participating hospitals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with sickle cell disease (pediatric ages, e.g., infants through preteens) who are admitted to the hospital for a vaso-occlusive pain episode are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults, people not hospitalized for a vaso-occlusive episode, or those with medical reasons they cannot receive IV arginine are unlikely to benefit from enrolling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could reduce pain, lower opioid requirements, and shorten hospital stays for children with sickle cell pain.
How similar studies have performed: A prior single-center randomized, double-blind trial in 54 children found a 54% drop in total opioid use and lower pain scores with IV arginine, but larger phase 3 confirmation is needed.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morris, Claudia R — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Morris, Claudia R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.