Sickle Cell Uric Acid (SCUA) - Cohort Repository

Sickle Cell Uric Acid (SCUA) - Cohort Repository

The purpose of this research is to study the causes of Sickle Cell kidney disease, as well as to collect and store samples and information about people with Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle Cell Disease causes kidney injury over time, but it is not clear why some individuals have very significant chronic kidney disease and why some do not. The purpose of this research is to study whether having high levels of 'uric acid,' which is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that may increase kidney injury and systemic inflammation, accelerates the progression of chronic kidney disease over time. Researchers will measure the number of participants that have high uric acid levels at the beginning of the study, as well as the number of participants that develop new high levels throughout the study. The study will also try to determine what causes the high uric acid levels in some patients but not others. The results of this study could help understand kidney injury and uric acid in sickle cell disease better.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 5-29 years
• Sickle cell disease as diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis, or by newborn screen per standard of care
• Currently receiving comprehensive sickle cell care at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU or in the adult Internal Medicine sickle cell care clinic at VCU.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who have received organ, stem cell, or bone marrow transplantation. - Those who require chronic dialysis