The effect of hydroxyurea on hemoglobin F in patients with
myeloproliferative syndromes
BP Alter and HS Gilbert
Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) may increase in patients receiving chemotherapeutic
drugs, a result of potential use in patients with symptomatic
hemoglobinopathies. We examined Hb F in 13 patients with myeloproliferative
disease (six polycythemia vera, five polycythemia vera with myeloid
metaplasia, one agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, and one chronic myelogenous
leukemia) who were treated with hydroxyurea. Four patients showed an
increase in Hb F from less than 1% to between 5% and greater than 8% while
on hydroxyurea, and a decline to less than 1% when the drug was
discontinued. This group of "responders" received a higher average daily
dose of hydroxyurea, which was administered continuously rather than
intermittently, when compared to the "nonresponders." Mean corpuscular
volumes (MCVs) rose in most patients, and i antigen remained elevated or
decreased; neither parameter correlated with Hb F levels. Both responders
and nonresponders had therapeutically desirable suppression of WBCs and
platelets, and almost all had no depression of reticulocytes or Hb.
Volume 66,
Issue 2,
pp. 373-379,
08/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by The American Society of Hematology
