Sickle cell disease Highlights What is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells. In December 2017, the FDA approved Siklos (hydroxyurea) to reduce the frequency of painful crises and the need for blood transfusions in children 2 years of age and older and adolescents with sickle cell anemia who have recurrent moderate to severe painful crises. Click on a topic below to view the available leaflets: Acute medicine Adult critical care Anaesthetics You and your anaesthetic Cancer services Cardiovascular Chest medicine Children’s services Chronic pain service Community services Day surgery unit Diabetes and endocrinology Diagnostic services Emergency Gastroenterology Gynaecology. INTRODUCTION. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by a marked heterogeneity in clinical and hematologic severity , with bone and joint problems being the most common manifestations. Hydroxyurea BC Cancer Agency Cancer Drug Manual© Page 2 of 3 Hydroxyurea Developed: September 1994 Revised: 6 March 2007 Tell doctors or dentists that you are being treated with hydroxyurea before you - SCD comprehensive pain management plan - SCD pain rapid overview - Orally available nonopioid analgesic and NSAIDs - Approximate oral equianalgesic doses for commonly used opioids Side Effects. Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Why you may think more is better than not enough, polycythemia can cause significant problems. This thickens the blood because now there are more cells in the same amount of liquid (called plasma). ACR 20 Response is defined as greater than or equal to ( =) 20 percent improvement from baseline in swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints) and =20 percent improvement from baseline in 3 of following 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain using Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0-10, 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible. For the Consumer. Applies to hydroxyurea: oral capsule, oral tablet. Along with its needed effects, hydroxyurea may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.