Can a common drug shield children with sickle cell from stroke?
NCT ID NCT03948867
First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026
Summary
This trial asks whether hydroxyurea, a daily oral medication, can reduce the risk of a first stroke in children with sickle cell anemia. Researchers will use transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound to measure blood flow in the brain, a key indicator of stroke risk, in children aged 2 to 16 in Tanzania. Participants with elevated risk will receive hydroxyurea, and the study will track changes in TCD velocities over a year to see if the drug helps lower their stroke risk.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Hydroxyurea, a daily oral medication, plus transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound screening to assess stroke risk.
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could establish a practical strategy to prevent first strokes in children with sickle cell anemia in low-resource settings.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is early (Phase 2) and focuses on a biomarker (TCD velocity) rather than actual stroke events, so benefits may not translate directly. Hydroxyurea can cause side effects like bone marrow suppression.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bugando Medical Centre
Mwanza, Tanzania
-
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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