Advancing Treatment for Sickle Cell Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
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Dr. Anand Srivastava and Dr. Santosh Saraf. (Photo: Jenny Fontaine/UIC)
Under a $3.78 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Dr. Anand Srivastava and Dr. Santosh Saraf of the College of Medicine are studying a treatment for kidney disease among people with sickle cell disease. There are limited treatments for people with sickle cell, who experience survival rates that may be 20 to 30 years shorter than for people without the disease. The researchers hope to demonstrate the efficacy of empagliflozin, a drug already FDA-approved for treatment of diabetes, in slowing the progress of chronic kidney disease, which is often a serious complication among sickle cell patients.