Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
The purpose of this research is to better characterize the components and mechanisms of the
 immune systems of persons with sickle cell disease who have had a kidney transplant and are
 immunosuppressed. If we can improve our scientific understanding of the fundamental
 mechanisms involved in patient outcomes, we can potentially maximize the benefits that we
 seek from transplantation in sickle cell patients with end stage renal disease.
Sickle cell disease is a common disease in the African-American population. In sickle cell
 disease red blood cells are abnormal in shape and can damage organs. In particular, patients
 with sickle cell disease can have damage to the kidneys, resulting in renal failure. The
 number of patients developing renal failure with sickle cell disease is unknown. This is
 largely due to the high mortality of patients with sickle cell disease and renal failure.

 There are two types of renal replacement therapy available to patients with sickle cell
 disease- dialysis and kidney transplantation. The best form of renal replacement therapy has
 not been determined for patients with sickle cell disease and renal failure. There have been
 approximately 190 renal transplants performed in the United States since 1988 in patients
 with sickle cell disease. Patients do well, but do not survive as long as patients with other
 causes of renal failure. It appears that patients with sickle cell disease who meet the
 criteria for kidney transplantation may derive a benefit from transplantation rather than
 undergoing dialysis.

 We are performing this study to follow patients with sickle cell disease who have received a
 renal transplant. We hope to learn the best way to manage patients with sickle cell disease
 to improve both survival of the transplanted kidney and the patients.

 In addition, we are studying the immune system and how it responds to receiving a kidney
 transplant in sickle cell patients. We hope the information we learn about the immune system
 will allow us to prevent injury to the new kidney transplant and allow for better outcomes in
 sickle cell patients.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Male or female patients between 18 and 65 years of age

 2. Patients capable of understanding the purposes and risks of the study, who can give
 written informed consent and who are willing to participate in and comply with the
 study.

 3. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7
 days prior to enrollment and must not be breast-feeding.

 4. Patients must be diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease (SS phenotype)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Patients with any prior organ transplant or multi-organ transplant recipients.

 2. Patients with evidence of an active systemic infection requiring the continued use of
 antibiotics, evidence of an HIV infection, or the presence of a chronic active
 hepatitis B or C.

 3. Patients with history of malignancy in the last 5 years (except successfully treated
 localized non-melanotic skin cancer)

 4. Patients with active illegal drug use