Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Hydroxyurea therapy for sickle cell disease in community-based practices: a survey of Florida and North Carolina hematologists/oncologists.

Zumberg MS, Reddy S, Boyette RL, Schwartz RJ, Konrad TR, Lottenberg R

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0277, USA.

Little is known about patterns of hydroxyurea (HU) use by community-based hematologist/oncologists (H/Os) for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Determination of these practice patterns pertaining to adult SCD patients was the focus of this study. A self-administered survey was mailed to H/Os in two southeastern states. Replies were received from 70% of eligible physicians. This study focuses on responses from 184 community H/Os and a comparison group of 30 university-based/affiliated H/Os providing ongoing care for at least 3 SCD patients/month. The majority of community H/O respondents saw less than 3 SCD patients/month. HU was prescribed by more than half (55%) of community H/Os in at least 10% of their patients. The most common reasons cited for prescribing HU include frequent painful crises (76%), chronic pain with frequent narcotic use (58%), and acute chest syndrome (43%). Although the majority of community H/Os care for few patients with SCD, the reported indications for HU were consistent with currently accepted recommendations. However, community H/Os reported acute chest syndrome, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension as indications for HU less often than the academic H/O group. Barriers to wider use of HU include physician concerns about carcinogenic potential, doubts about HU effectiveness, perceived patient apprehension about adverse effects, concern about lack of contraceptive use, and patient compliance. Further resources should focus on updating physicians on recently published material supporting the effectiveness of HU in symptomatic SCD as well as providing management guidelines to optimize the use of HU.

Published 6 June 2005 in Am J Hematol, 79(2): 107-13.
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