Children living with sickle cell can be treated safely using hydroxyurea, 10-year trial finds
New research shows the efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea treatment for sickle cell anemia at four low-income sites in Africa, with no increase in clinically diagnosed infections.
A recent 10-year trial has found that hydroxyurea, a drug used to treat sickle cell anemia, can be administered safely in low-income settings in Africa. Conducted by the REACH trial, the study involved 606 children and young adults living with the disease across four African nations: Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Uganda.
Hydroxyurea works by encouraging the body to produce more fetal hemoglobin, which prevents red blood cells from clumping together and causing complications. Despite concerns that hydroxyurea could increase the risk of infections by suppressing the immune system, the trial revealed no increase in clinically diagnosed infections, including malaria, in treated children.
In fact, the study showed a 51% reduction in malaria risk and a 38% reduction in nonmalarial infections with higher hydroxyurea doses. The lead researcher, Tom Williams from Imperial College London, stated that many doctors are hesitant to use hydroxyurea due to fears of increased infection risks in low-income settings. However, this comprehensive study found no such increase, providing reassurance for the wider use of hydroxyurea as standard care for children with sickle cell anemia in resource-limited areas.
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