We’ve enjoyed three articles about hydroxyurea so far. Let’s summarize the recommendations for the administration of hydroxyurea alias Hydroxycarbamide.
These are;
- Educate all patients with SCA and their family members about hydroxyurea therapy.
- In adults with SCA who have three or more sickle cell-associated moderate to severe pain crises in 12 months, treat with Hydroxycarbamide.
- In adults with SCA who have sickle cell-associated pain that interferes with daily activities and quality of life, administer Hydroxycarbamide.
- In adults with SCA who have a history of severe or recurrent ACS, treat with hydroxyurea.
- In adults with SCA who have severe symptomatic chronic anaemia that interferes with daily activities or quality of life, administer Hydroxycarbamide.
- In patients with SCA, from 9 months of age and older, offer treatment with hydroxyurea regardless of clinical severity to reduce SCD-related complications.
Note: The panel intentionally used the term “offer” realizing that patients’ values and preferences may differ particularly considering the treatment burden (e.g., laboratory monitoring, office visits), availability of the drug in a liquid form, and cost. Therefore, the panel strongly encourages shared decision making and discussion of hydroxyurea therapy with all patients.
Related article: Hydroxyurea in sickle cell disease: What You Need To Know: Part 1
- You can add hydroxyurea in adults and children with SCD who have CKD and are taking erythropoietin. It will improve anaemia.
- In females who are pregnant or breastfeeding, discontinue hydroxyurea therapy.
- To ensure proper use of Hydroxycarbamide and maximize benefits and safety, use an established prescribing and monitoring protocol.
- In people with HbS β+-thalassemia or HbSC who have recurrent sickle cell-associated pain that interferes with daily activities or quality of life, consult a sickle cell expert for consideration of Hydroxycarbamide therapy.
- In people not demonstrating a clinical response to appropriate doses and duration of Hydroxycarbamide therapy, consult a sickle cell expert.
Thanks for reading and we wish that you could share this article with your colleagues.