Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in SCD, in Northern Nigeria

Summary

Except for children with HIV, all recommendations for treatment of childhood malnutrition are for children \< 5 years of age. The overall goal of this randomized controlled nutrition feasibility trial is to identify whether families of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) 5 years and older agree to participate over a 12-week period. The investigators will also establish a safety protocol for monitoring potential complications associated with treating severe malnutrition in children 5 years and older with and without SCD, in a low-resource setting.

Timeline

Start

2021-08-18

Primary completion

2022-10-05

Completion

2022-11-09

Publications

• Murtala HA, Abdullahi SU, Gambo S, Kabir H, Shamsu KA, Gwarzo G, Acra SA, Stallings VA, Rodeghier M, DeBaun MR, Klein LJ. Including malnourished siblings in treatment improves nutritional outcomes for children with sickle cell anemia in Northern Nigeria: Results from a feasibility trial. Nutr Res. 2025 Dec;144:32-37. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2025.10.006. Epub 2025 Oct 18.
• Brechko A, Abdullahi SU, Gambo S, Murtala HA, Kabir H, Shamsu KA, Stallings VA, Rodeghier M, Ramesh A, Sellers A, Schlundt DG, DeBaun MR, Klein LJ. Adherence to ready-to-use therapeutic food in older children with sickle cell anaemia and severe acute malnutrition: a mixed-methods study in a low-income setting. BMJ Glob Health. 2025 Aug 7;10(8):e019096. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019096.
• Ramirez-Cuebas G, Abdullahi SU, Gambo S, Murtala HA, Kabir H, Shamsu KA, Gwarzo G, Acra SA, Stallings VA, Rodeghier M, DeBaun MR, Klein LJ. Impact of Food Insecurity on Malnutrition Treatment Response in Nigerian Children With Sickle Cell Anemia and Severe Acute Malnutrition. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Jun;72(6):e31637. doi: 10.1002/pbc.31637. Epub 2025 Mar 10.
• Ritter C, Abdullahi SU, Gambo S, Murtala HA, Kabir H, Shamsu KA, Gwarzo G, Banaei Y, Acra SA, Stallings VA, Rodeghier M, DeBaun MR, Klein LJ. Impact of maternal depression on malnutrition treatment outcomes in older children with sickle cell anemia. BMC Nutr. 2024 Jan 24;10(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s40795-024-00826-0.
• Abdullahi SU, Gambo S, Murtala HA, Kabir H, Shamsu KA, Gwarzo G, Acra S, Stallings VA, Rodeghier M, DeBaun MR, Klein LJ. Feasibility trial for the management of severe acute malnutrition in older children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria. Blood Adv. 2023 Oct 24;7(20):6024-6034. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010789.

Drugs

Indications