Using arginine therapy to treat pain in children with sickle cell disease
2/2: Sickle Cell Disease Treatment with Arginine Therapy (STArT) trial
This study is looking at whether giving L-arginine through an IV can help reduce pain during sickle cell crises in kids, with the hope of finding a new way to make them feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10925255 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of arginine therapy to alleviate vaso-occlusive painful episodes in children suffering from sickle cell disease. The approach involves administering intravenous L-arginine to improve blood flow and reduce pain associated with these episodes. Previous studies have shown promising results, including reduced opioid use and lower pain scores in hospitalized children. The goal is to conduct a larger phase 3 trial to confirm these findings and potentially establish a new treatment option for managing pain in sickle cell disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who experience vaso-occlusive episodes due to sickle cell disease.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new therapeutic option to significantly reduce pain and improve the quality of life for children with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with arginine therapy in reducing pain and opioid use in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, indicating a promising avenue for further research.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Casper, Theron C — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Casper, Theron C
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.