Effect of hydroxyurea on thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia in iranian patients

ABSTRACT

Hydroxyurea has been used in thatassemia major [T.M.] and thalassemia intermedia patients since 1994 with some success in different centers. The objective was to evaluate the effect and possible side effects of hydroxyurea in these patients. This was a descriptive study done in 2007 after nine years of initiation of Hydroxyurea. Medical records of 1050 patients were reviewed. Patients who had received hydroxyurea for at Least three continuous months were enrolled into the study. Clinical and laboratory data during six months before and six month after starting hydroxyurea were compared. Two hundred ninety seven patients were enrolled of these two hundred forty eight [83.8%] were thalassemia major and forty eight [16.2%] were thatassemia intermedia. Dose of hydroxyurea was 15.5 +/- 6.4mg/kg /day and duration was 5.2 +/- 2 years [ranging 0.5-9 years]. Transfusions were completely stopped in one hundred eleven [44.7%] of thalassemia major patients with a mean Hb of l0g/dl. After 22.5 +/- 18 months, using Desferal was stopped in sixty six [26.6%] patients. The reasons for stopping hydroxiurea were "ineffectiveness" in 20%, "poor compliance" in 12.4% and side effects in 13.4% of patients. The side effects were nausea, palpitation, transient leucopenia and transient raising of creatinin. Hydroxyurea is effective and safe in thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia patients and saves them from side effects of blood transfusions