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hydroxyurea

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surendra:
hello everyone
Dr has advised us to give hydroxyurea to our daughter. But we have not started yet. we are going for transfusion on this saturday.
So when should it be started and what precautions should be taken before starting hydroxyurea.
waiting for earlier reply..
 

Andy Battaglia:
Just follow the doctor's instructions. A key value that should be monitored is the percentage of the total hemoglobin that is fetal hemoglobin, HbF. If this percentage shows a steady increase, it is an indication that the drug is working, as it affects HbF levels. I don't believe that there is anything you need to do in advance.

surendra:
thanks Andy
what are the side effects of this drug and when should it be given?? 
When should We check her HbF level after starting the  dose??

Andy Battaglia:
Your doctor should guide you on the testing, but it should be at least every three months during the first year of use.

There has not been many reported side effects with the doses of hydroxyurea used in thalassemia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21602718

--- Quote ---Efficacy of hydroxyurea in providing transfusion independence in β-thalassemia.
Ansari SH, Shamsi TS, Ashraf M, Perveen K, Farzana T, Bohray M, Erum S, Mehboob T.
Source
Department of Pediatric Hematology, National Institute of Blood Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan. ansarisaqib@hotmail.com

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Packed red blood cell (PRC) transfusion with iron chelation is the mainstay of treatment for β-thalassemia major. This prospective interventional trial serves as a follow up to our similar earlier study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea (HU) in minimizing PRC transfusions in patients with β-thalassemia major.
METHODS:
One hundred fifty-two patients with β-thalassemia major received HU at a mean dose of 16 mg/kg/d. The results were analyzed at the end of 24 months. Transfusion requirement during the 6 months preceding the study was considered as the control.
RESULTS:
One hundred forty-six of 152 patients were evaluated after 24 months of follow up; 6 patients were either lost to follow-up or withdrew consent. Grade 1 myelosuppression was observed in 4 patients and diarrhea in 2 patients. Sixty children (41%) did not require any transfusion after using HU; 57 patients (39%) showed partial response with greater than 50% reduction in PRC transfusion; and 29 patients (20%) were nonresponders with less than 50% reduction in PRC transfusion. The mean volume of PRC transfused was reduced for all patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
HU was found to be safe in patients with β-thalassemia major, and resulted in the reduction of transfusion requirement and in an increase in the interval between transfusions.
PMID: 21602718 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
--- End quote ---

TPF-Help:

--- Quote from: surendra on May 10, 2012, 04:56:38 AM ---hello everyone
Dr has advised us to give hydroxyurea to our daughter. But we have not started yet. we are going for transfusion on this saturday.
So when should it be started and what precautions should be taken before starting hydroxyurea.
waiting for earlier reply..
 

--- End quote ---

Dear Surendra,

At what age you are going to start to give hydroxyurea to your daughter ?
What type of mutation found in your daughters DNA studies ?
Please reply to my queries.
With regards,
sys

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