Soad K Al Jaouni
King Abdulaziz University, KSA
Title: Hydroxyurea, an effective therapy to avoid splenectomy in sickle cell disease and thalassemia: Single institute experience in Saudi Arabia
Biography
Biography: Soad K Al Jaouni
Abstract
Background & Aim: Spleen plays an important part in the immune system which helps the body to fight against infection and has a major role in children. Splenectomy has been decline in hemoglobin disorders in recent years. Aim of this study is to assess the role of hydroxyurea and to eliminate the risk of splenectomy in sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia at our medical center.
Methods: Total of 54 patients enrolled in the study from 2004 to 2016 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. 25 sickle cell disease (SCD), 17 thalassemia major (TM) were suboptimal transfusion dependents and hypersplenism, 12 thalassemia inter media (TI).
Results: Risk of splenectomy has been avoided in 24/25 SCD, 15/17 in TM and 12/12 in TI.
Conclusion: Hydroxyurea is an effective and safe therapy can eliminate risk of splenectomy in SCD and thalassemia. Recent studies and meta-analysis showed that hydroxyurea is safe and non-carcinogenic.
