TY - JOUR
T1 - Hydroxyurea
T2 - The drug of choice for polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia
AU - Dingli, David
AU - Tefferi, Ayalew
PY - 2006/4
Y1 - 2006/4
N2 - Hydroxyurea is an old drug that is often used to control essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera in patients with high-risk disease. It is usually well tolerated and cheap and has been proven effective in many studies for the prevention of thrombohemorrhagic complications associated with these disorders. However, many clinicians are reluctant to use it because of the perceived risk of progression to acute leukemia. Several recent, large studies have given this drug a new lease on life. Relevant results from these studies are discussed, and the risk of leukemia is placed in perspective to demonstrate that hydroxyurea remains the drug of choice in patients with either of these disorders.
AB - Hydroxyurea is an old drug that is often used to control essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera in patients with high-risk disease. It is usually well tolerated and cheap and has been proven effective in many studies for the prevention of thrombohemorrhagic complications associated with these disorders. However, many clinicians are reluctant to use it because of the perceived risk of progression to acute leukemia. Several recent, large studies have given this drug a new lease on life. Relevant results from these studies are discussed, and the risk of leukemia is placed in perspective to demonstrate that hydroxyurea remains the drug of choice in patients with either of these disorders.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11899-006-0025-4
DO - 10.1007/s11899-006-0025-4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 20425334
AN - SCOPUS:33750322388
SN - 1558-8211
VL - 1
SP - 69
EP - 74
JO - Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports
JF - Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports
IS - 2
ER -