Table 2

Hematologic responses to hydroxyurea treatment in patients with SCA

YearNo. of patientsAverage age, yMTDAverage dose, mg/kg/dTreatment duration, yHemoglobin, g/dLMCV, fLHbF, %WBC, ×109/LANC, ×109/LReference
1992 32 27.6 Yes 21.3 0.8 9.7 117 15 8.4 4.6 15 
1999 71 9.8 Yes 25.6 1.5 9.1 102 16.3 9.1 4.4 21 
2004 106 10.3 Yes 25.9 3.8 9.5 107 19.7 7.2 3.6 26 
2005 11 3.4 Yes 30.0 9.0 96 23.3 8.9 NA 28 
2007 37 6.8 Yes 27.9 0.8 9.4 104 22.7 NA NA 56 
2009 14 3.9 Yes 28 2.1 9.5 99 25.9 NA 3.0 53 
2009 111 7.6 Yes 26.7 3.2 9.7 107 23.2 7.5 3.8 Unpublished 
1996 22 No ∼ 20 0.5 8.5 96 15.3 8.9 NA 18 
2001 21 1.3 No ∼ 20 2.0 8.8 90 20.3 NA 4.2 22 
2001 22 No ∼ 20 8.7 97 12.9 NA 4.0 25 
2005 32 No ∼ 20 8.8 92 12.5 NA 4.6 57 
YearNo. of patientsAverage age, yMTDAverage dose, mg/kg/dTreatment duration, yHemoglobin, g/dLMCV, fLHbF, %WBC, ×109/LANC, ×109/LReference
1992 32 27.6 Yes 21.3 0.8 9.7 117 15 8.4 4.6 15 
1999 71 9.8 Yes 25.6 1.5 9.1 102 16.3 9.1 4.4 21 
2004 106 10.3 Yes 25.9 3.8 9.5 107 19.7 7.2 3.6 26 
2005 11 3.4 Yes 30.0 9.0 96 23.3 8.9 NA 28 
2007 37 6.8 Yes 27.9 0.8 9.4 104 22.7 NA NA 56 
2009 14 3.9 Yes 28 2.1 9.5 99 25.9 NA 3.0 53 
2009 111 7.6 Yes 26.7 3.2 9.7 107 23.2 7.5 3.8 Unpublished 
1996 22 No ∼ 20 0.5 8.5 96 15.3 8.9 NA 18 
2001 21 1.3 No ∼ 20 2.0 8.8 90 20.3 NA 4.2 22 
2001 22 No ∼ 20 8.7 97 12.9 NA 4.0 25 
2005 32 No ∼ 20 8.8 92 12.5 NA 4.6 57 

Studies in which hydroxyurea was escalated to maximum tolerated dose (MTD) usually averaged > 25 mg/kg per day and achieved laboratory thresholds of hemoglobin > 9 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) > 100 fL, and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) ∼ 20%. In contrast, studies in which hydroxyurea was not escalated to MTD usually averaged 20 mg/kg per day and achieved hemoglobin < 9 g/dL, MCV < 100 fL, and HbF ∼ 15%.

SCA indicates sickle cell anemia; WBC, white blood cell; ANC, absolute neutrophil count; and NA, not available.