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Sickle cell: Daily hydroxyurea safe in African children
Tshilolo L et al. ASH 2018, Abstract 3
Key clinical point: Daily hydroxyurea treatment in sub-Saharan African children with sickle cell disease is feasible, safe, and effective, and has the additional benefit of reducing their rates of malaria and nonmalaria infections.
Major finding: Malaria infection rates were 22.9 versus 46.9 events per 100 patient-years in the hydroxyurea treatment period and pretreatment period, respectively (incidence rate ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.37-0.66).
Study details: A phase 1-2, international, open-label trial including 606 children in four sub-Saharan African countries who completed a 2-month pretreatment screening phase and went on to receive hydroxyurea.
Disclosures: Dr. Tshilolo reported grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, along with nonfinancial support from Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr. Ware reported grants from the NIH/NHLBI and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Tshilolo L et al. ASH 2018, Abstract 3
