Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia

Introduction: Patients referred to as having thalassemia major are usually those who come to medical attention in the first year of life and subsequently require regular transfusions to survive. Those who present later or who seldom need transfusions are said to have thalassemia intermediaHydroxyure...

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Main Authors: Ali Ghasemi, Bijan Keikhaei, Saghi Elmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2012-10-01
Series:International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/344/385
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author Ali Ghasemi
Bijan Keikhaei
Saghi Elmi
author_facet Ali Ghasemi
Bijan Keikhaei
Saghi Elmi
author_sort Ali Ghasemi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Patients referred to as having thalassemia major are usually those who come to medical attention in the first year of life and subsequently require regular transfusions to survive. Those who present later or who seldom need transfusions are said to have thalassemia intermediaHydroxyurea, an s-phase-specific and non-DNA-hypomethylating chemotherapeutic agents is capable of inducing HbF synthesis.Patients & Methods: The study evaluated hydroxyurea complications in a cohort of 28 patients with major (n=20) and intermediate thalassemia (n=8). HU was started in a dose of 10 mg/kg daily and then increased by 5 mg/kg daily every 4-6 weeks until toxicity occurred or clinical response was achieved.Results: We reviewed the records of 28 patients with intermediate and major b-thalassemia. The statistical analysis did not show a significant correlation between age at diagnosis, age of starting HU, duration of HU treatment, dose of HU and ethnicity.Side effects of HU have been recorded in 21 (75%) patients.Adverse effects were hair loss (n=8; 28.57%), hyper pigmentation (n=4; 14.28%), nausea and vomiting (n=2; 7.14%), abdominal pain (n=4; 14.28%), and increase in hepatic enzymes (n=2; 7.14%).Neurologic complications were headache (n=7; 25%), vertigo (n=1; 3.57%) and drowsiness (n=1; 3.57%).Conclusion: According to the results of this and other studies, it seems that HU therapy in thalassemic patients can be safely used but can be started at low doses and increased slowly , monitoring the patient's response
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spelling doaj.art-6877762eddfe4b57b48bd09c40a4aac72023-08-02T01:51:44ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research2008-30092008-22072012-10-01641113Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-ThalassemiaAli GhasemiBijan KeikhaeiSaghi ElmiIntroduction: Patients referred to as having thalassemia major are usually those who come to medical attention in the first year of life and subsequently require regular transfusions to survive. Those who present later or who seldom need transfusions are said to have thalassemia intermediaHydroxyurea, an s-phase-specific and non-DNA-hypomethylating chemotherapeutic agents is capable of inducing HbF synthesis.Patients & Methods: The study evaluated hydroxyurea complications in a cohort of 28 patients with major (n=20) and intermediate thalassemia (n=8). HU was started in a dose of 10 mg/kg daily and then increased by 5 mg/kg daily every 4-6 weeks until toxicity occurred or clinical response was achieved.Results: We reviewed the records of 28 patients with intermediate and major b-thalassemia. The statistical analysis did not show a significant correlation between age at diagnosis, age of starting HU, duration of HU treatment, dose of HU and ethnicity.Side effects of HU have been recorded in 21 (75%) patients.Adverse effects were hair loss (n=8; 28.57%), hyper pigmentation (n=4; 14.28%), nausea and vomiting (n=2; 7.14%), abdominal pain (n=4; 14.28%), and increase in hepatic enzymes (n=2; 7.14%).Neurologic complications were headache (n=7; 25%), vertigo (n=1; 3.57%) and drowsiness (n=1; 3.57%).Conclusion: According to the results of this and other studies, it seems that HU therapy in thalassemic patients can be safely used but can be started at low doses and increased slowly , monitoring the patient's responsehttp://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/344/385Side EffectsHydroxyureaB-Thalassemia
spellingShingle Ali Ghasemi
Bijan Keikhaei
Saghi Elmi
Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research
Side Effects
Hydroxyurea
B-Thalassemia
title Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
title_full Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
title_fullStr Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
title_full_unstemmed Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
title_short Side Effects of Hydroxyurea in Patients with Major and Intermediat B-Thalassemia
title_sort side effects of hydroxyurea in patients with major and intermediat b thalassemia
topic Side Effects
Hydroxyurea
B-Thalassemia
url http://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/344/385
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