Children living with sickle cell can be treated safely using hydroxyurea, 10-year trial finds
A 10-year study conducted in Africa has found that hydroxyurea is a safe and effective treatment for children with sickle cell anemia. The research indicates that the drug does not increase the risk of infections, even in low-income settings with limited clinical resources.
Why it matters
This finding could significantly improve health outcomes for hundreds of thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa who suffer from this severe inherited blood disease.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: National Institutes of Health New research shows the efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea treatment for sickle cell anemia at four low-income sites in Africa, with no increase in clinically diagnosed infections.
Hydroxyurea is a drug taken once daily by mouth that works to reduce the complications of sickle cell anemia by encouraging the body to produce more fetal hemoglobin . This form of hemoglobin, normally made by babies in the womb, stops red blood cells from sickling.
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