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CompletedNCT00451919Updated Aug 19, 2016

The Link Between Anemia and Deficits in Memory and Attention in Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease

An observational study in Sickle Cell Disease, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2016-08-19.

Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Observational

Study type
Observational
Enrollment
120
Ages
21 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells (RBCs). People with sickle cell disease frequently experience anemia, or a low number of RBCs. RBCs are responsible for carrying oxygen to the brain and other body tissues that need oxygen to function properly. The purpose of this study is to determine what changes, which were possibly caused by anemia, exist in the brains of individuals with sickle cell disease.

Read the detailed description

The role of RBCs is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the brain and other body tissues. Individuals with anemia have unusually low numbers of RBCs. They also often have difficulty concentrating and remembering information, which is likely caused by a reduced oxygen supply to the brain. Previous research has shown that correcting anemia in patients without sickle cell disease improved their memory and attention. The purpose of this study is to examine any abnormal changes in the brains of individuals with sickle cell disease and to determine whether these changes are related to reduced memory and attention capabilities.

Participants will attend one study visit. During this visit, a brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be performed while participants complete neuropsychological tests that measure memory, attention, and organizational ability. There will be no follow-up visits.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "End Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.

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Conditions studied

  • Sickle Cell Disease

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Keywords

  • MRI
  • Neuropsychology
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In context

Anemia, Sickle Cell

1,103 studies on the registry are indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell; 235 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 120 is above the median of 100 across 287 observational studies indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell.

Browse Anemia, Sickle Cell studies →

Lead sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the lead sponsor of 1,117 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.

Of its 57 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 49 (86%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of sickle cell disease

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Claustrophobia
  • Mass lesion (e.g., meningioma, cyst, or spinal block)
  • Need for life support constant monitoring
  • Any unstable condition that is likely to require resuscitation
  • Presence of a pacemaker or other iron-containing magnetic substances in the body
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Study design

Enrollment
120 participants (actual)
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Study locations

1 site
  • University of California San Francisco
    San Francisco, California 94121, United States
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 19, 2016, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00451919
Lead sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Collaborators
University of California, San Francisco
First posted
Mar 26, 2007
Start date
Jul 2006
Primary completion
Feb 2009
Completion
Feb 2009
Last update
Aug 19, 2016

Study contacts

Randall R. Rule, PhD
principal investigator · University of California, San Francisco
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2013. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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