title: Does hydroxyurea prevent pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease?
abstract: A 27-year-old man with sickle cell disease (HbSS) presents to the sickle cell clinic for follow-up after a screening echocardiogram revealed an increased tricuspid regurgitant velocity of 2.7 m/s. He has a history of 2 painful crises per year and has been hospitalized 3 times over the past 10 years for management of painful crises. He had one episode of acute chest syndrome at age 15 that was treated with an RBC exchange transfusion, supplemental oxygen, and intravenous antibiotics; he did not require mechanical ventilation. He has not had additional episodes of acute chest syndrome and does not have a history of stroke, retinopathy, or leg ulcers. The patient has never been treated with hydroxyurea. He wants to know whether hydroxyurea will prevent future pulmonary complications related to sickle cell disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology and.
authors.forename: Tyler W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Buckner
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology and Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Kenneth I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Ataga
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011642:Publications
chemical_list: D006918:Hydroxyurea