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NCT Number: NCT04925492

PET Imaging of Vaso-Occlusive Crisis (VOC) in SCD

The purpose of this study is to find objective biomarkers of vaso-occlusion (blood vessel blockage) in people with SCD. Using information from earlier studies and work being done, researchers have developed a strategy to image VOC, using positron emission tomography (PET).

The ability to see and measure VOC in SCD patients can help patient care, by showing when and how a VOC is occurring or going to occur. Studying this method will also help in future drug research, as it will allow researchers to deliver promising new medications that target hyper-adhesion and sickling in people with SCD.

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Key information

Conditions

Sickle Cell Disease Anemia Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital Anemia, Sickle Cell Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Genetic Diseases, Inborn Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Hemoglobinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

UPMC

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Jude Jonassaint, RN

CONTACT

[email protected]

Leticia Candra, BA

CONTACT

[email protected]

About this study

The purpose of this study is to find objective biomarkers of vaso-occlusion (blood vessel blockage) in people with Sickle Cell Disease(SCD). Using information from earlier studies, and work being done at Washington University, a strategy to image vaso-occulusive crisis (VOC) has been developed, using positron emission tomography (PET) for anatomical localization only. 64Cu-LLP2A is the radio tracer used for the study.

Aim: To develop quantitative PET imaging of VOC in patients with SCD. The researchers hypothesize that the radio tracer 64Cu-LLP2A uptake increases proportionally to the intensity of pain in patients with VOC, compared to baseline values. This increase in uptake will be assessed focally in areas of pain as well as globally to reflect heightened systemic inflammation.

Primary and secondary study endpoint: The overarching hypothesis of this study is that PET tracer uptake of intensity of 64Cu-LLP2A is a real time, quantitative measure of hyper adhesion in VOC.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of SCD (HbSS, SC, S/β-thalassemia, SD, SE, SO) by hemoglobin electrophoresis/High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
  • Aged 18 and above
  • Ability to understand and provide informed consent.
  • If receiving hydroxyurea or L-glutamine, crizanlizumab, voxelotor or erythropoietin stimulating agents, must have been receiving the drug for at least 12 weeks prior to screening and plan to continue taking the drug at the same dose and schedule during the study
  • Experienced at least 2 VOCs leading to healthcare visit within the 12 months prior to screening visit as determined by medical history.

Exclusion criteria

  • Active malignancy
  • Current pregnancy or breast feeding
  • Participating in a chronic transfusion program (pre-planned series of transfusions for prophylactic purposes) and/or planning on undergoing an exchange transfusion during the duration of the study; episodic transfusion in response to worsened anemia or VOC is permitted
  • Received active treatment on another investigational trial within 30 days (or 5 half-lives of that agent, whichever is greater) prior to screening visit or plans to participate in another investigational drug trial

Treatment and study plan

Positron Emission Tomography

Radiation

An imaging method that uses radiotracers to view changes in the metabolic process.

Other names: PET Scan

Cu-64]-LLP2A

Drug

A radioactive tracer used in PET imaging.

Other names: Cu-64]-LLP2A Radiotracer

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in PET tracer uptake in VOC

    Time frame: Up to five years from first assessment depending on when VOC occurs.

    Intensity of PET tracer uptake in VOC will be measured and compared to uptake at baseline in predefined regions of interest and over the whole body

  2. Association of PET tracer uptake with intensity of pain in VOC

    Time frame: 2 hours during an assessment while in VOC.

    Intensity of PET tracer uptake will be compared to intensity of pain by Visual Analog Score (scored from 0-10, with 0 meaning no pain, and 10 meaning the most pain) and pain characteristic assessed by the Painimation assessment tool in specific anatomical areas in the patients during a sickle cell vaso-occlusive event.

  3. Association of PET tracer uptake with clinical VOC markers

    Time frame: Up to the length of a hospital visit for treatment of VOC. On average, about 5 days.

    Measure of PET tracer uptake will be compared with clinical markers of vaso-occlusive events including length of stay and hematologic markers of hemolysis.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jude Jonassaint, RN

CONTACT

[email protected]

919-219-7481

Leticia Candra, BA

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Enrico Novelli

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Registry information

Official study title

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging of Vaso-occlusive Crisis(VOC) in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 14, 2021
Registry last updated
May 7, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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