Use of hydroxyurea in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

Jean-Benoît Arlet¹, Françoise Bernaudin², Indou Deme-Ly^{3

4}, Binta Coulibaly⁵, Anne Corbasson⁶, Ibrahima Diagne⁷, Dapa Diallo^{8

9}, Saliou Diop¹⁰, Charlotte Eposse¹¹, Frédéric Galacteros¹², Olivier Hermine¹³, Eléonore Kafando¹⁴, Agnès Lainé¹⁵, Mariane de Montalembert¹⁶, Constant Vodouhé¹⁷, Ahoefa Vovor¹⁸, Brigitte Ranque¹⁹, Léon Tshilolo²⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, and Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France. jean-benoit.arlet@aphp.fr.
² Pediatric Department Sickle Cell Referral Center, Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil, 94000, Creteil, France.
³ Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
⁴ Albert Royer National Children Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
⁵ , Francfort-Sur-Le-Main, Germany.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, France.
⁷ Cooperation and Pedagogic Innovation, Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
⁸ Hematology at the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology of the University of Science, Techniques and Technologies (USTTB), , Bamako, Mali.
⁹ Center for Research and Control of Sickle Cell Disease (CRLD), Bamako, Mali.
¹⁰ Department of Hematology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal.
¹¹ Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
¹² Unité Des Maladies Génétiques du Globule Rouge (UMGGR), GHU Henri-Mondor, AP-HP Et U-PEC, Médecine Interne, Paris, France.
¹³ Department of Hematology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.
¹⁴ Laboratory of Hematology, University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
¹⁵ Institut Des Mondes Africains, Aubervilliers, France.
¹⁶ Service de Pédiatrie Générale, Hôpital Necker, Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
¹⁷ Association DORYS, Strasbourg, France.
¹⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences, Lomé, Togo.
¹⁹ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, and Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
²⁰ Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

PMID: 39909904
PMCID: PMC11971222
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-06180-2

Practice Guideline

Use of hydroxyurea in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

Jean-Benoît Arlet et al. Ann Hematol. 2025 Feb.

. 2025 Feb;104(2):937-941.

doi: 10.1007/s00277-024-06180-2. Epub 2025 Feb 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, and Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France. jean-benoit.arlet@aphp.fr.
² Pediatric Department Sickle Cell Referral Center, Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil, 94000, Creteil, France.
³ Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
⁴ Albert Royer National Children Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
⁵ , Francfort-Sur-Le-Main, Germany.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, France.
⁷ Cooperation and Pedagogic Innovation, Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
⁸ Hematology at the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology of the University of Science, Techniques and Technologies (USTTB), , Bamako, Mali.
⁹ Center for Research and Control of Sickle Cell Disease (CRLD), Bamako, Mali.
¹⁰ Department of Hematology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal.
¹¹ Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
¹² Unité Des Maladies Génétiques du Globule Rouge (UMGGR), GHU Henri-Mondor, AP-HP Et U-PEC, Médecine Interne, Paris, France.
¹³ Department of Hematology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.
¹⁴ Laboratory of Hematology, University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
¹⁵ Institut Des Mondes Africains, Aubervilliers, France.
¹⁶ Service de Pédiatrie Générale, Hôpital Necker, Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
¹⁷ Association DORYS, Strasbourg, France.
¹⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences, Lomé, Togo.
¹⁹ Department of Internal Medicine, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, AP-HP, French National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Other Rare Red Blood Cell Disorders and Erythropoiesis, Paris, and Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
²⁰ Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

PMID: 39909904
PMCID: PMC11971222
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-06180-2

Abstract

The hydroxyurea is a save, affordable and essential medicine for sickle cell disease (SCD), reducing painful crises and mortality. To foster the prescription of hydroxyurea for patients with SCD in sub-Saharan African countries, the scientific advisory board of Drep.Afrique, a non-governmental organization dedicated to SCD in Africa, has developed a therapeutic guideline well suited to conditions on the ground. These guidelines answer three essential questions: which patients should be prioritized for treatment with hydroxyurea, which dose should be used, and what follow-up should be implemented in those low-resources countries? The guidelines are given as in a concise document for easy use by practitioners on the ground, available in English and in French.

Keywords: Africa; French-speaking countries; Guidelines; Hydroxyurea; Sickle cell disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interest: Jean-Benoît Arlet declares the receipt of research funding from Addmedica/Theravia, GBT-Pfizer, Novartis, and Vertex and speaker’s fees from Novartis France and GBT. He co-founded the NGO Drep.Afrique. Françoise Bernaudin declares the receipt of research funding from Pfizer, and receipt consulting fees BlueBirdBio and Pfizer; honoraria from Vertex and support for meetings from Addmedica and GBT. Anne Corbasson declares the receipt of speaker’s fees for Pfizer and conference support from Vitalaire. Saliou Diop declares the receipt of research funding from Addmedica/Theravia, and honoraria from Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Octapharma and support for meetings from Novo Nordisk.Frédéric Galactéros declares the receipt honoraria and research funding from NOVARTIS, SANOFI, BLUEBIRDBIO, PFIZER, AGIOS, GBT, BMS, and ADDMEDICA Companies.Mariane de Montalembert is member of Advisory Boards for Novartis, Vertex, and Addmedica/Theravia.Olivier Hermine declares the receipt of research funding from BMS, Roche, Alexion and support for travels from BMS.Léon Tshilolo declares the receipt of research funding from the NIHLB ; speaker’s fees from Novartis, Novo Nordisk; honoraria from NIHLB and Drep.Afrique and support for meetings from the NIHLB, NNHL and Gate fondation. All other authors report no competing interests.

References

1. Piel FB, Rees DC, DeBaun MR, Nnodu O, Ranque B, Thompson AA et al (2023) Defining global strategies to improve outcomes in sickle cell disease: a Lancet Haematology Commission. Lancet Haematol 10:e633–e686 - PMC - PubMed
1. Tshilolo L, Tomlinson G, Williams TN, Santos B, Olupot-Olupot P, Lane A et al (2019) Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa. N Engl J Med. 380:121–131 - PMC - PubMed
1. John CC, Opoka RO, Latham TS, Hume HA, Nabaggala C, Kasirye P et al (2020) Hydroxyurea Dose Escalation for Sickle Cell Anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa. N Engl J Med. 382:2524–2533 - PubMed
1. Aygun B, Lane A, Smart LR, Santos B, Tshilolo L, Williams TN et al (2024) Hydroxyurea dose optimisation for children with sickle cell anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa (REACH): extended follow-up of a multicentre, open-label, phase 1/2 trial. Lancet Haematol S2352–3026(24):00078–00084 - PMC - PubMed
1. https://www.afro.who.int/publications/who-sickle-package-interventions-s...Downloaded August 06, 2024.

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Use of hydroxyurea in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

Affiliations

Use of hydroxyurea in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

References

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LinkOut - more resources

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Medical