Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy (Jan 2024)

Consensus of the Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy (ABHH) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health - General management of blood and blood products on the tests necessary for the release of exceptional medicines for sickle cell disease

  • Clarisse Lobo,
  • Aderson Araújo,
  • Alexandre de Albuquerque Antunes,
  • Ana Cristina Silva Pinto,
  • Ariadne Carvalho Godinho,
  • Cassia Silvestre Mariano Pires,
  • Cinthia Cristina Matheus,
  • Xerez de Albuquerque,
  • Daniele Campos Fontes Neves,
  • Fábio de Lima Moreno,
  • Giorgio Baldanzi,
  • Grazziella Curado Siufi,
  • Heloisa Helena Pereira Miranda,
  • Jane Hankins,
  • Joice Aragão,
  • Josefina Aparecida Pellegrini Braga,
  • Juliana Touguinha Neves Martins,
  • Luciana Campos Costa Machado de Souza,
  • Maria Stella Figueiredo,
  • Mirella Rodrigues Oliveira,
  • Patricia Santos Resende Cardoso,
  • Patricia Costa Alves Pinto,
  • Patricia Gomes Moura,
  • Rodolfo Delfini Cançado,
  • Paulo Ivo Cortez de Araujo,
  • Sara Olalla Saad,
  • Sandra Regina Loggetto,
  • Teresa Cristina Cardoso Fonseca

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 1
pp. 67 – 71

Abstract

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To date, hydroxyurea is the only effective and safe drug that significantly reduces morbidity and mortality of individuals with Sickle cell disease. Twenty years of real-life experience has demonstrated that hydroxyurea reduces pain attacks, vaso-occlusive events, including acute chest syndrome, the number and duration of hospitalizations and the need for transfusion. The therapeutic success of hydroxyurea is directly linked to access to the drug, the dose used and adherence to treatment which, in part, is correlated to the availability of hydroxyurea. This consensus aims to reduce the number of mandatory exams needed to access the drug, prioritizing the requesting physician's report, without affecting patient safety.

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