TRANSFUSIONS TO PREVENT STROKE IN SICKLE CELL SO SUCCESSFUL, FDA HALTS TRIALS
Emory/Grady Researchers and Children Available for Interviews

September 22, 1997

Media Contacts: Sarah Goodwin, 404/727-3366 - sgoodwi@emory.edu
Kathi Ovnic, 404/727-9371 - covnic@emory.edu
http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will announce Thursday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m., conclusion of the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) due to the resounding success of the study, showing that monthly blood transfusions prevent stroke in those children with sickle cell at highest risk for stroke.

About one in every 12 children with sickle cell anemia is at particularly high risk for stroke. Study investigators used transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD) -- a procedure refined by researchers at Medical College of Georgia -- to identify these high risk patients. Once identified, the children were randomized to either receive or not receive monthly blood transfusions. The success of the transfusions for preventing stroke (and improving other symptoms of sickle cell, such as reducing pain episodes) in the children receiving transfusions was so successful, the study investigators and NHLBI decided to end the trial 18 months early. The treatment and screening will very soon be available to any qualified children.

Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University is one of the 14 centers participating in the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP). Head of the Emory component of STOP is Lewis Hsu, M.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics (Division of Hematology/Oncology) at Emory Children's Center, Emory University School of Medicine. Principal investigator of the entire STOP study is Robert Adams, M.D., of the Medical College of Georgia.

SEPTEMBER is National Sickle Cell Month.

CONTACTS

Lewis Hsu, M.D., Pediatric Hem/Onc
5-3559
Pager 225-0219
fax 525-2816
LHSU@emory.edu

Eldrida Carter, Emory study coordinator
5-5001
Pager 570-0894

Tony Barker, MCG public relations
706/721-4421

For more general information on The Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, call Health Sciences News and Information at 404-727-5686, or send e-mail to hsnews@emory.edu.