Efficacy and safety of high dose hydroxyurea in transfusion dependent thalassemic children: a quasi experimental study
Background: This study was conducted to find out whether high dose hydroxyurea is an effective and safe modality, in inducing haemoglobin synthesis to decrease blood transfusion requirement in transfusion dependent thalassemics.Methods: This quasi experimental un-control before and after comparison study was conducted in Thalassemia Day Care Centre, Department of Pediatrics over a period of six months after obtaining an approval from the Institute’s ethical committee. Fifty transfusions dependent thalassemic children belonging from 2 to 18 yrs were given hydroxyurea in dose of 20mg/kg after getting consent. Pre and post intervention haemoglobin and HbF levels were obtained using Hb electrophoresis by HPLC. Paired t test was applied to find out statistical significance and p value <0.05 was taken as significant.Results: Significant rise in haemoglobin pre and post intervention (p<0.001) but the rise in HbF was not significant (p=0.110). One patient had bone marrow depression which was reversible with drug withdrawal and one patient had rise in s. creatinine.Conclusions: High dose hydroxyurea is an effective and safe drug in inducing Hemoglobin synthesis in transfusion dependent thalassemics.