Expert US panel recommends expanding use of hydroxyurea in sickle cell disease

An expert panel as part of the US National Institutes of Health has recommended expanding the adoption of the drug hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle-cell disease.

The report issued by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute also suggests that clinicians reduce stroke risk in children by giving periodic blood transfusions, and says both this and hydroxyurea are under-used. It emphasizes the need for consistent health maintenance for those with sickle-cell disease, including the use of penicillin through age five to discourage deadly infections, and the importance of pneumococcal vaccines for children and adults.

Gary Gibbons, director of the NHLBI, said: “Since the NHLBI’s earliest days, sickle-cell disease has been an important part of its mission. This report represents an important milestone as NHLBI continues to seek new ways to reduce the burden of this devastating condition. We recognize that these clinical guidelines are not the end of the conversation. The NHLBI remains committed to being a global leader in sickle-cell research. The panel report provides guidance for our future research agenda to enhance the well-being of patients with sickle-cell disease.”