Hydroxyurea: Clinical and Hematological Effects in Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia

BACKGROUND & AIM: it is well known that hydroxyurea impacts on clinical and hematologic indices in sickle cell disease (SCD), we aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroxyurea on clinical and hematological improvement of sickle cell anemia.

METHODS & MATERIALS: In this cohort study 48 patients with sickle cell disease were enrolled and pain crisis, severity of pain, acute chest syndrome, the number of hospitalization, the rate of transfusion, spleen size, total Hb, HbF levels, MCV, MCH were compared before and after treatment with HU 10 mg/kg/day/for one year.

RESULTS: In patients with Sickle cell disease Hu significantly decreased the rate of transfusion, hospitalization, spleen size and significantly increased Hb, RBC indices and HbF. Furthermore, we did not find any remarkable adverse effect related to HU during the one year follow up in patients.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that in the course of one year hydroxyurea 10 mg/kg/day can significantly increase HbF, total hemoglobin and RBC indices without any notable side effect in patients with SCD.