Publication: Hydroxyurea and colonic ulcers: a case report
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Issued Date
2014
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Gastroenterology. Vol. 14, (2014), 134
Suggested Citation
Kochawan Boonyawat, Sansanee Wongwaisayawan, Prawat Nitiyanant, Vichai Atichartakarn Hydroxyurea and colonic ulcers: a case report. BMC Gastroenterology. Vol. 14, (2014), 134. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-134 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/2735
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Title
Hydroxyurea and colonic ulcers: a case report
Abstract
Background: Hydroxyurea at a relatively low dose is frequently prescribed to induce hemoglobin F production
in patients with sickle cell and β-thalassemia diseases because of its good efficacy and safety profiles. However,
a potentially fatal gastrointestinal ulceration was recently found and herein reported.
Case presentation: A thirty-seven-year-old man with transfusion dependent hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia disease was
treated with hydroxyurea to induce hemoglobin F production since 2007 without incident. From 2008 to April 2010,
episodes of hematochezia, mucous diarrhea and epigastric pain intermittently manifested. Four colonoscopies done
during the period repeatedly showed ulcerative lesions from the terminal ileum to the ascending colon with a
non-specific histo-pathologic finding. Subsequently, ulcerative lesions also developed at the pharynx, histo-pathologic
findings of which were not different from those in the colon. These ulcerative lesions resolved within a month after
discontinuing hydroxyurea in April 2010 and have not recurred since.
Conclusion: The findings suggested role of hydroxyurea in the pathogenesis of these ulcers, and that it must be
immediately discontinued to prevent further damage to the digestive mucosa.