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Hydroxyurea and colonic ulcers: a case report
Kochawan Boonyawat, Sansanee Wongwaisayawan1, Prawat Nitiyanant
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sww563@hotmail.com.
BMC Gastroenterology
|August 2, 2014
Summary
Hydroxyurea, used for sickle cell and thalassemia, may cause severe gastrointestinal and pharyngeal ulcers. Discontinuation of hydroxyurea led to the resolution of these ulcers, suggesting a causal link.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hydroxyurea is a standard treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, effectively inducing fetal hemoglobin (HbF).
- Its established efficacy and safety profile make it a common therapeutic choice for these hemoglobinopathies.
Observation:
- A case study involving a patient with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia highlights a potential adverse effect of hydroxyurea.
- The patient developed severe gastrointestinal ulcerations and pharyngeal lesions during hydroxyurea treatment.
- These lesions resolved completely after hydroxyurea was discontinued.
Findings:
- The development and subsequent resolution of ulcerative lesions suggest a direct role for hydroxyurea in their pathogenesis.
- Histopathological findings were non-specific, underscoring the clinical presentation as key to diagnosis.
Implications:
- Hydroxyurea should be considered as a potential cause of gastrointestinal and pharyngeal ulcerations in patients with hemoglobinopathies.
- Immediate discontinuation of hydroxyurea is recommended if such ulcers are suspected to prevent further mucosal damage.
