title: Clinical and Haematological Effects of Hydroxyurea in β-Thalassemia Intermedia Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that hydroxyurea (HU) impacts on clinical and haematologic indices in thalassemia. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroxyurea on clinical and haematological improvement in children with thalassemia intermedia.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the patients' enrollment in the study their data such as transfusion, hospitalization, spleen size, visit, total Hb, HbF levels, MCV and MCH were compared before and after treatment with HU 10 mg/kg/day/for one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with thalassemia intermedia, HU significantly diminished the rate of transfusion, hospitalization, spleen size and significantly increased Hb MCH, HbF and MCV. Moreover HU was well tolerated in our patients and we got no remarkable adverse effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We divulged hydroxyurea 10 mg/kg/day during one year. This significantly increased HbF, total haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, without any remarkable adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics Hematalogy Oncology, Health Research Institute, Research Centre of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keikhaei
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics Hematalogy Oncology, Health Research Institute, Research Centre of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Homayon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Research Committee & Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahadoram
keywords: Adverse effects; Fetal hemoglobin; Hematologic tests; Hospitalization; Spleen; Treatment outcome