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. 2021 Nov 6;7(4):312-317.
doi: 10.2478/jccm-2021-0019. eCollection 2021 Oct.

The Use of Hydroxyurea in the Treatment of COVID-19

Melissa Robin Bowman Foster  1 , Ali Atef Hijazi  1 , Rebecca Opoku  1 , Priya Varghese  1 , Chun Li  1
Affiliations

The Use of Hydroxyurea in the Treatment of COVID-19

Melissa Robin Bowman Foster et al. J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures). .

Abstract

Introduction: The rapid worldwide spread of COVID-19 motivated medical professionals to pursue and authenticate appropriate remedies and treatment protocols. This article aims to analyze the potential benefits of one treatment protocol developed by a group of care providers caring for severe COVID-19 patients.

Methods: The clinical findings of COVID-19 patients who were transferred to a specialized care hospital after unsuccessful treatment in previous institutions, were analyzed. The specialized care hospital used a treatment protocol including hydroxyurea, a medication commonly used for sickle cell treatment, to improve respiratory distress in the COVID-19 patients. None of the COVID-19 patients included in the analyzed data were diagnosed with sickle cell, and none had previously taken hydroxyurea for any other conditions.

Results: In all presented cases, patients reverted to their baseline respiratory health after treatment with the hydroxyurea protocol. There was no significant difference in the correlation between COVID-19 and hydroxyurea. However, deaths were extremely low for those taking hydroxyurea.

Conclusions: Fatality numbers were extremely low for those taking hydroxyurea; death could be attributed to other underlying issues.

Keywords: COVID-19; critical respiratory care; hydroxyurea; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest None to declare.

Figures

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Fig. 1
Study population information
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Study population gender information
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Fig. 3
Study population taking hydroxyurea prior to COVID-19 diagnosis
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Fig. 4
Gender information for patients taking hydroxyurea
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Fig. 5
. Age information for patients taking hydroxyurea
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Fig. 6
Mortality of patients taking hydroxyurea
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Fig. 7
Mortality of patients not taking hydroxyurea
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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