Children's Hospital Oakland new sickle cel...( a) and other inherited anemias said E...),Health

Dr. Morris and her colleagues published their conclusions after a four-year study of 228 sickle cell patients and 36 controls. Blood was taken from the sickle cell patients to measure amino acids and arginase activity. An ultrasound of their heart and lung vessels was also conducted. A total of 18 patients with sickle cell disease died during the study, 14 of whom had pulmonary hypertension identified at enrollment. Consequently, patients with low amino acid ratios were 3.6 times at greater risk of death than patients with high arginine availability. It is anticipated the findings of this study will provide new insight into diseases associated with hemolysis, and help scientists create new strategies for treating sickle cell anemia.

Children's Hospital Oakland has the country's largest, most innovative sickle cell disease treatment and research programs. Dr. Morris is a clinical scientist at the hospital's research institute with primary investigations into asthma and sickle cell disease. Further studies are needed to establish safety and efficacy of long-term treatment of arginine and other therapies that maximize arginine availability. Dr. Morris is currently seeking funding for such studies.

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Contact: Diana Yee
dyee@mail.cho.org
510-428-3120
Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
5-Jul-2005