Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education

Scientific literature and patient education texts

Back to Evidence & Education / Patient Education

Hydroxyurea Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

key information

source: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

year: N/A

summary/abstract:

Hydroxyurea is a medicine that can help children and adults with sickle cell disease.
Research studies show that hydroxyurea lowers the following:
• The numbers of acute chest syndrome (pneumonia) events
• The number of pain crises
• The need for blood transfusions
• The number of trips to the hospital

Hydroxyurea also might prevent damage to the spleen, kidneys, lungs, and brain.

Hydroxyurea is given by mouth one (1) time each day. It comes in liquid or capsule form. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for the treatment of adults with severe sickle cell disease. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other medical centers have carried out research studies that demonstrated the safety of hydroxyurea therapy for young children and infants with sickle cell disease.

 

read more

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close