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Study of The Therapeutic Benefits of Al-hijamah in Children With Beta Thalassemia Major

Not Applicable
Conditions
AL-Hijama in Thalassmia Major
Interventions
Procedure: Al-hijamah
Registration Number
NCT02761395
Lead Sponsor
Tanta University
Brief Summary

1. Evaluate the therapeutic effects, health benefits, and immunological effect of Al-hijamah in children with beta thalassemia major.

2. Evaluate the extent of clinical improvement, reductions in serum iron and ferritin, antioxidant status, in those patients.

Detailed Description

The present study will be carried on 60 children patients with β- thalassemia major attending The Hematology Unit of Paediatric Departments at Tanta University Hospital. Participants will divide into 3 groups:

Group 1: 20 patients receive Al-hijamah.

Group 2: 20 patients receive Al-hijamah plus iron chelation therapy.

Group 3: 20 patients receive iron chelation therapy only

Participants undergo:

1. Laboratory investigations:

* CBC (complete blood count) of peripheral venous blood before Al-hijamah and daily after it.

* Differences between CBC from venous blood and cupped blood (bloody excretion collected inside suction cups). Cupped blood is collected in heparin coated with and added to suction cups put on the skin surface.

• Serum iron and ferritin before Al-hijamah and after it.

• Serum iron and ferritin in cupped blood vs venous blood.

• Serum lipid profile and glycosylated hemoglobin before Al-hijamah and after it.

* Total antioxidant capacity and some serum oxidants e.g. malondialdehyde before and after treatment

* Flow cytometric analysis of number of Natural killer cells, CD4 T helper cells and CD4/CD8 cells (optional) (cluster of differentiation). They were reported to improve markedly after Al-hijamah.

* Estimating serum LDH, pyruvate (antioxidant) and lactate (metabolite of pyruvate through LDH) in thalassemia patients before and after Al-hijamah

2. Assessment of heart function by Echocardiographic study (before and 3 month after Al-hijamah):

* lines of therapy:

Technical steps of Al-hijamah (Necessary equipments are ready and can do it for all patients if possible):

Al-hijamah (Triple S technique under strict sterilization):

* Strict sterilization of selected anatomical sites.

* Suction using sterile plastic disposable sucking cups

* Skin scarifications (shartat mihjam): through inducing superficial (0.1 mm in depth), small (2 mm in length), multiple and evenly distributed skin incisions.

* Suction using sterile plastic disposable sucking cups

* Strict sterilization of selected anatomical sites.

Study endpoint:

This study will be terminated if safety of the patient were in dangers due to elements related to the new therapeutic agent or if the treatment not proven efficacious.

5. Risks to participants are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. Many human studies have proven safety of Al-hijamah.

6. Compensations of controls for transportation or work absence and of patients for any injury, and if so, description of the compensation should be mentioned.

No, compensations.

7. The proposal include a clear statement that an informed consent will be obtained from all participants in this research.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children suffering from beta thalassemia major, with age range from 4-18 years.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Children with Congenital heart disease
  • Children with Rheumatic heart disease
  • Presence of heart failure
  • Children with Coronary arterial disease
  • Children with Cardiomyopathy
  • Children with hypotension
  • Children with inflammatory skin diseases e.g. acute burns

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group 1: ALhijamaAl-hijamah20 patients under went Al-hijamah procedure for iron chelation
Group 2: AL-hijama with deferasiroxAl-hijamah20 patients receive deferasirox and Al-hijamah.
Group 2: AL-hijama with deferasiroxDeferasirox20 patients receive deferasirox and Al-hijamah.
Group 3:deferasiroxDeferasirox20 patients already receiving deferasirox
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
CD(cluster of differentiation)4 and CD8 count3month

count and percentage

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
serum ferritin3 months

measured as ng per dl

malodialdehyde ant total antioxidant capacity3 months

measuedas mmol per litre

serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride3month

level of cholesterol and triglyceride (mg per dl)

alanine amino transferase , aspartate amino transferase3month

measured as unit per litre

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Medicine- Tanta University

🇪🇬

Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt

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