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.

Pulsed-dosing with oral sodium phenylbutyrate increases hemoglobin F in a patient with sickle cell anemia.

Hines P, Dover GJ, Resar LM

Hematology Division, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Increasing hemoglobin F (HbF) appears to be beneficial for patients with sickle cell anemia. We previously demonstrated that daily, oral sodium phenylbutyrate (OSPB) induces HbF synthesis in pediatric and adult patients with hemoglobin SS (HbSS). The high doses and need for daily therapy, however, have limited its use. Here, we report a patient treated with pulsed-dosing of OSPB for over 3 years. This patient developed a modest, but sustained elevation in HbF over the course of therapy without side effects. Although larger studies are needed, this case demonstrates that pulsed-dosing with OSPB enhances HbF synthesis.

Published 12 December 2007 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 50(2): 357-9.
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