feature
“n my opinion, almost
I
every person with sickle
cell anemia should be
taking hydroxyurea —
it’s as simple as that.”
This report coincided with a
symposium held by NHLBI, called
the Herrick Symposium, which
is dedicated to the physician
who first described SCD in
1910. This very well-attended
symposium focused on the value
of hydroxyurea. The release of
that recommendation three years
ago really paved the way for the
refinement and completion of the
longer report.
In my opinion, almost every
person with sickle cell anemia
should be taking hydroxyurea —
it’s as simple as that. The major
problem with that, however,
is suboptimal compliance and
adherence. Hydroxyurea has to be
taken once a day and it requires
periodic monitoring, so there is
some inconvenience for patients.
In the guidelines, we tried to
provide very clear, straightforward
T:7”
treatment cycles was 5. Sixty-three percent of
patients in the study had a dose interruption of
either drug due to adverse reactions. Thirty-seven
percent of patients in the study had a dose reduction
of either drug due to adverse reactions. The
discontinuation rate due to treatment-related
adverse reaction was 3%.
Monitor patients for hematologic toxicities,
especially neutropenia. Monitor complete blood
counts weekly for the first 8 weeks and monthly
thereafter. Patients may require dose interruption
and/or modification [see Dosage and
Administration (2.2)].
Tables 2, 3, and 4 summarize all treatment-emergent
adverse reactions reported for the POMALYST +
Low-dose Dex and POMALYST alone groups
regardless of attribution of relatedness to
pomalidomide. In the absence of a randomized
comparator arm, it is often not possible to
distinguish adverse events that are dru