Evaluation of Serum Electrolytes in Sickle Cell Disease Patients with Respect to Hydroxyurea Therapy

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease is one of the oldest genetic disorders known to medical science. The morbidity and mortality associated with the disease and its complication, sickle cell crisis, amounts to be a significant health issue. Hydroxyurea, originally used as an anticancer agent, has proved to be the wonder drug in lower doeses in sickle cell diease. The severity and impact of the disease on the affected person is decreased by a great extent by its use. The mechanism of action of the drug in sickle cell disease is yet to be completely understood. Electrolytes play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. Aim: The current study aims to evaluate the serum electrolyte levels in sickle cell disease patients and look for the effect of hydroxyurea on them. Materials and methods: Fifty two sickle cell disease (SS) patients and 20 normal individuals were included in the study (AA). Thirty four of the SS patients were under hydroxyurea therapy. The serum levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate were estimated in all the study subjects. Results and discussion: No significant difference was found with respect to the serum electrolytes in the sickle cell patients under and not under hydroxyurea therapy. But the serum electrolytes varied significantly between the sickle cell disease patients and the normal individuals. Conclusion: Serum electrolytes play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, but hydroxyuera therapy does not seem to play a great role in altering their levels in the patients.