Background:
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease that causes the body to produce abnormal ( sickled ) red blood cells. SCD can cause anemia and life-threatening complications in the lungs, heart, kidney, and nerves. People with SCD are also at increased risk of forming blood clots in the veins and lungs, but the standard treatments for these clots can cause increased bleeding in people with SCD. Better treatments are needed.
Objective:
To test a drug (fostamatinib) in people with SCD.
Eligibility:
People aged 18 to 65 with SCD.
Design:
Participants will have 6 clinic visits over 12 weeks. Each visit will be 2 to 3 hours.
Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will tell the researchers about the medications they take.
Fostamatinib is a tablet taken by mouth. Participants will take the drug at home, twice a day, for up to 6 weeks.
Participants will have a clinic visit every 2 weeks while they are taking the drug. At each visit they will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will talk about any side effects the drug may be causing. If they are tolerating the drug well after the first 2 weeks, they may begin taking a higher dose.
Participants will have a final visit 4 weeks after they stop taking the drug. They will have a physical exam and blood tests; they will be checked for any side effects of the drug.
Have provided signed written informed consent prior to performing any study procedure, including screening procedures.
Age between 18-65 years
Unequivocal diagnosis of SCA (HbSS or HbSBeta^0) confirmed by hemoglobin electrophoresis performed on patients at least 60 days after a blood transfusion if previously transfused.
No transfusion in the 60 days prior to signing consent, or absence of Hb A on hemoglobin analysis (by high-performance liquid chromatography; HPLC)
Pain crisis requiring parenteral treatment within 14 days of signing consent.
History of neutropenia (benign ethnic neutropenia and/or acquired neutropenia related to drug suppression by hydroxyurea and/or cyclic hematopoiesis are permitted).
History of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
History of poorly controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure >=130 mmHg or average diastolic blood pressure >=90 mmHg based on an average of 3 blood pressure readings despite adequate antihypertensive therapy) unless controlled for >90 days prior to enrollment.