Sickle Cell Kidney Biorepository

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · Jul 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on better understanding kidney disease in people who have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait—a condition where the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Kidney problems are common and serious in these individuals, but doctors don’t yet fully understand how these problems start or why they tend to be worse. This study collects blood and urine samples from participants, along with their medical information, to help researchers discover early signs of kidney damage and find better ways to protect kidney health in people with sickle cell conditions.

Adults over 18 years old with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait may be eligible to join, as long as their kidney function is not severely reduced (meaning their kidneys still work at a certain level). People without sickle cell conditions may also be included as comparison participants if they match the age and other characteristics of those with sickle cell. Participants will provide blood and urine samples and share medical information, which will be securely stored for future research. The study is currently recruiting people who are not pregnant, not experiencing severe sickle cell pain, and do not have serious kidney failure or certain other health conditions. This research could lead to better ways to detect and treat kidney problems early in people with sickle cell conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age over 18 years,
• • 2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than or equal to 15 mL/min,
• • 3. Presence of any hemoglobinopathy (will need to be confirmed by hemoglobin electrophoresis or genetic testing),
• • 4. Controls (absence of hemoglobinopathy) will be subject to review and only selected if demographics are identical to a currently enrolled participant with a hemoglobinopathy.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 66 years or older,
• • 2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 15 mL/min or on dialysis,
• • 3. Active pregnancy (may be enrolled 4 weeks or more after delivery),
• • 4. Active sickle cell pain episode requiring hospitalization or emergency room visit or pain infusion clinic visit (may be enrolled 2 weeks or more after resolution of severe pain),
• • 5. Active malignancy on induction or consolidation treatment. Maintenance chemotherapy in remission will be considered,
• • 6. Prisoners.