Characterization of sicklemic patients in the "Hermanos Cordové" Pediatric Hospital, role of hydroxyurea

Abstract

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a hematological and hereditary disease whose generic name was assigned to a group of genetic alterations characterized by the predominance of hemoglobin S. Objective: To describe clinically sicklemic patients and hydroxyurea therapy. Material and Method: An observational, descriptive, retrospective study on the morbidity of sicklemic patients graduated from the Oncohematology ward of the Hermanos Cordové Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital during the period from February 2013 to February 2018 was carried out. The population consisted of 37 sicklemic patients. Results: It was found that the predominant age was from 10 to 18 years with a total of 26 patients for 70.2%, with a predominance of males representing 67.6%. The Bartolomé Masó municipality was the one that contributed the most cases with 12 patients, there was a predominance of mixed-race patients represented by 24 patients for 64.9%. Painful vaso-occlusive crises predominated with 76 cases, and seizure crises with seizures with 12 patients for 100%. Conclusions: High doses of HU are not necessary to improve the clinical picture of sickle cell anemia, when administering low doses of the drug there is less risk that the patient presents toxic manifestations secondary to the drug.