NIH Consensus Statement: Hydroxyurea Underused

• In 2008, a panel convened by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a consensus statement recommending that more adults and adolescents with sickle cell disease receive drug treatment with hydroxyurea (Droxia).
• Hydroxyurea is a drug that can help reduce the frequency of painful sickle cell crises and episodes of acute chest syndrome. It is currently approved for adults, but is increasingly being used to treat younger patients.
• The NIH panel also concluded that the risks of serious side effects appear to be lower than previously thought, and that the risks of untreated sickle cell disease outweigh those of the drug.

Complications of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease can block the flow of blood in arteries in many parts of the body, causing many complications. The hallmark of sickle cell disease is the sickle cell crisis, which causes sudden attacks of severe pain. Acute chest syndrome, which is triggered by infection or blockage of blood vessels in the lungs, is also a common and serious occurrence. Other medical complications include:

• Infections
• Pulmonary hypertension (increased pressure in the arteries of the lungs)
• Stroke
• Anemia
• Kidney problems
• Priapism (prolonged and painful erections)
• Liver problems
• Gallbladder disease
• Spleen damage
• Bone and joint problems
• Leg sores and ulcers
• Eye damage in the retina