In this study 40 patients with SCD will be included. Twenty patients aged 18 years or older (cohort 1) and twenty patients 10 - 17 years old (cohort 2).
All the patients will receive Memantine Teva® film-coated tablets (Memantine hydrochloride) produced by Teva Pharma AG and will be provided as 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets packed in blister.
The study drug will be taken once a day per os, during one year.

Sickle Cell Disease

a low-moderate affinity, uncompetitive, NMDAR antagonist

Memantine Hydrochloride

Emek Medical Centre

A Phase - IIa - IIb, Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Memantine as a Long-term Treatment of SCD

A Phase - IIa - IIb, Open Label, Single Center Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Memantine Teva® as Supportive Long-term Treatment in Symptomatic Sickle Cell Disease

The following laboratory parameters will be assessed and evaluated:
Complete blood count.
Hemolytic activity (reticulocytes, indirect bilirubin and LDH).
Iron status (ferritin, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation).
Fetal hemoglobin levels
Red cell volume, density, membrane stability, adherablilty, inflammatory markers and metabolic activity.

Clinical improvements will be assessed by
Number of hospital days.
Number of emergency consultations
Impact on working ability (the number of days with inability to work)
The amount and type of analgesic medication received by the patient.
The amount of RBC transfusions received by the patient.
The number of days that antibiotics were prescribed.
A questionnaire on quality of life.
Evaluation of Cognitive function.

Dr Koren Ariel

Head of Pediatric Hematology Unit

HaEmek Medical Center, Israel

N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

Placebo

Total

Sex: Female, Male

Region of Enrollment

Finger Pulse Oximetry to measure arterial oxygen saturation

Placebo Group

N-acetyl-L-Cysteine (800 mg T.I.D. in diet soda) for 4 days

NAC Group

Arterial Oxygen Saturation

N-acetylcysteine

Overall Study

Charles S Fulco, PI

NAC Group and Placebo Group

Effects of High Altitude

Hypoxia

Inadequate or Impaired Breathing Pattern or Ventilation

Abnormal Blood Oxygen Pressure

NAC provided to determine if beneficial at altitude

USARIEM

Induced Changes in Ventilatory Responsiveness and Altitude Exposure

Modulation of Oxygen Sensor Reactivity to Mimic Altitude Acclimatization

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

blister

hypoxia

blister/hypoxia

A Phase - IIa - IIb, Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Memantine as a Long-term Treatment of SCD

Induced Changes in Ventilatory Responsiveness and Altitude Exposure

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