Overview
Dr. De Castro is an assistant professor of medicine with the Division of Hematology in the Department of Medicine at Duke University. She is the clinical director of the adult comprehensive sickle cell clinic. Her translational research projects involve the evaluation of sickle red cell adhesion to laminin and its pathophysiological significance. In, addition, she has been the PI of more than 10 NIH or industry sponsored clinical studies on SCD and she is currently the Duke/UNC Sickle Cell Scholar, funded primarily through the Duke/UNC Sickle Cell Center.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine
·
2014 - Present
Medicine, Hematology,
Medicine
Recent Scholarly Works
Factors associated with survival in a contemporary adult sickle cell disease cohort.
Journal article Am J Hematol · May 2014 In this study, the relationship of clinical differences among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) was examined to understand the major contributors to early mortality in a contemporary cohort. Survival data were obtained for 542 adult subjects who were ... Full text Link to item CiteAn official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of pulmonary hypertension of sickle cell disease.
Journal article Am J Respir Crit Care Med · March 15, 2014 BACKGROUND: In adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), an increased tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) measured by Doppler echocardiography, an increased serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) level, and pulmonary hypertension (PH) di ... Full text Link to item CiteDifferences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis.
Journal article Clin J Pain · March 2014 OBJECTIVES: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease characterized by multiple vaso-occlusive complications and is increasingly cared for by hospitalists. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in pain management between hematologists an ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Hematopoietic Cell Therapy for Young Adults with Severe Sickle Cell Disease
Clinical TrialInvestigator · Awarded by University of Pittsburgh · 2011 - 2014Phase II Study of Propranolol as Anti-Adhesive Therapy in SCD
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2013PROPRANOLOL AS ANTI-ADHESIVE THERAPY IN SCD
Clinical TrialCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2012View All Grants
Education
Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) ·
1986
M.D.