Effective use of hydroxyurea for sickle cell anemia in low-resource countries.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Over the past several decades, hydroxyurea has emerged as a well tolerated and potent disease-modifying therapy for children and adults with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Strong, evidence-based recommendations from the National Institutes of Health, American Society of Hematology, and British Society of Haematology document that hydroxyurea is now standard of care treatment for SCA. In low-resource settings, however, hydroxyurea is rarely utilized due to lack of availability, inadequate treatment guidance, and excessive costs.

Recent findings

Research trials conducted within the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa confirm the efficacy of hydroxyurea as a well tolerated, feasible, and beneficial treatment in low-resource countries. Hydroxyurea is therefore vital to

SUBMITTER: Power-Hays A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9364839 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature