Prevention of Sickle Cell Pain Crises with a P-Selectin Inhibitor

P-selectin, which is released from endothelial cells and from platelets activated by inflammation or trauma, mediates the binding of erythrocytes and leukocytes to the vessel wall. In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), adherent masses of sickled red cells and leukocytes contribute to occlusive pain crises.

To assess whether the P-selectin inhibitor crizanlizumab can decrease the frequency of sickle cell pain crises, investigators conducted an industry-sponsored, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II trial involving 198 SCD patients who received intravenous low-dose crizanlizumab (2.5 mg/kg), high-dose crizanlizumab (5.0 mg/kg), or placebo every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. All groups had similar percentages of pa…