title: Hydroxyurea therapy lowers circulating DNA levels in sickle cell anemia.
abstract: Hydroxyurea reduces the frequency of acute pain in sickle cell disease (SCD). We sought to determine if hydroxyurea therapy affects cell free DNA (cfDNA) levels in SCD. cfDNA levels fell in all 10 patients studied; before hydroxyurea, mean was 1,879 (95% CI 1,104-3,199) GE/mL; after hydroxyurea, mean was 780 (95% CI, 634-959) GE/mL (P = 0.002). Mean cfDNA level in the 10 HbSS adults prior to starting hydroxyurea was also significantly higher than that in 115 HbSS case controls who had never taken hydroxyurea (1,879 vs 975 GE/mL, P = 0.02). cfDNA levels may be useful in monitoring response to hydroxyurea therapy in SCD.
authors.affiliation: King's College London School of Medicine, Division of Gene and Cell Based Therapy, Denmark Hill Campus, London SE5 9NU.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ulug
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vasavda
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keir
authors.forename: Moji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awogbade
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: Swee Lay
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Thein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015983:Selection Bias
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA; D006918:Hydroxyurea