This application outlines a Phase 2 trial of L-glutamine in SCD and Thal patients. In particular the impact of this amino acid on arginine bioavailability, biomarkers of oxidative stress and hemolysis-associated PH will be investigated. Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, naturally found in dietary protein. It is also available as a dietary supplement. It can also be metabolized to arginine, the amino acid substrate for nitric oxide production that becomes deficient in hemolytic conditions and plays a role in PH. Low levels of glutamine within the red blood cell of SCD patients are associated with PH. The metabolic fate of glutamine supplementation within plasma and erythrocytes of patients with SCD and Thal is unknown, but will be investigated in this proposal. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies will be performed in normal controls and patients with SCD and ThaI patients with and without PH using oral L-glutamine in powder or capsule form. The impact of glutamine supplementation on plasma and erythrocyte glutamine and arginine bioavailability in these subgroups will be determined over 8 hours. An open-label trial of oral glutamine for patients with SCD and Thal patients with PH will follow. The planned duration of this trial is 3 years. It is anticipated that 50 patients will be enrolled in total (30 in the intervention arm and 20 additional patients in the PK arm). The intervention study will be an open label trial to determine the impact of oral glutamine on biomarkers of oxidative stress, arginine bioavailability, hemolysis and PH. Patients will receive an 8-week course of oral glutamine (0.1 g/kg three times daily). The objectives of the trial are: 1) To determine the efficacy of oral glutamine therapy on increasing erythrocyte glutamine bioavailability in patients with hemolysis-associated PH through an 8-week open-label trial. 2) To determine the PK and metabolic fate of glutamine supplementation within plasma and erythrocytes of patients with SCD and Thal. 3) To monitor for potential toxicities associated with repeated administration of L-glutamine. Glutamine is a nutritional supplement with very low toxicity and few side effects. Studies using glutamine in patients with SCD demonstrate that it was well tolerated. PH is a complication of hemolytic disorders that is associated with significant morbidity and early mortality. Novel therapies that target hemolysis in these underserved populations are needed.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01FD003531-02
Application #
7795911
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZFD1-OPD-N (S1))
Project Start
2009-04-01
Project End
2012-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital & Res Ctr at Oakland
Department
Type
DUNS #
076536184
City
Oakland
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94609
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Morris, Claudia R; Kuypers, Frans A; Lavrisha, Lisa et al. (2013) A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of arginine therapy for the treatment of children with sickle cell disease hospitalized with vaso-occlusive pain episodes. Haematologica 98:1375-82
Gomez, Esteban; Morris, Claudia R (2013) Asthma management in sickle cell disease. Biomed Res Int 2013:604140
Morris, Claudia R (2013) Arginine and asthma. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser 77:1-15
Morris, Claudia R; Kim, Hae-Young; Wood, John et al. (2013) Sildenafil therapy in thalassemia patients with Doppler-defined risk of pulmonary hypertension. Haematologica 98:1359-67
Morris, Claudia R; Kim, Hae-Young; Trachtenberg, Felicia et al. (2011) Risk factors and mortality associated with an elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity measured by Doppler-echocardiography in thalassemia: a Thalassemia Clinical Research Network report. Blood 118:3794-802
Newaskar, Manisha; Hardy, Karen A; Morris, Claudia R (2011) Asthma in sickle cell disease. ScientificWorldJournal 11:1138-52