Study to test stroke prevention drug in sickle cell anemia

A five-year study scheduled to begin in Spring 2006 called Stroke With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (SWiTCH), funded by the National Institutes of Health, will investigate whether a new combination treatment can prevent a secondary stroke in children with sickle cell anemia. SWiTCH may provide a way to greatly simplify and improve the long-term care of children with the disease who have suffered strokes. Current treatment includes monthly blood transfusions and nightly injections of a drug that eliminates excessive iron buildup caused by the transfusions. Half of the SWiTCH participants will remain on this standard treatment, and half will be treated with hydroxyurea and monthly removal of blood (phlebotomy). If the hydroxyurea treatment is successful in reducing secondary strokes in children with sickle cell anemia, the researchers will be interested to see if it can prevent primary strokes as well.