Effect of hydroxyurea on foetal haemoglobin in myeloproliferative & myelodysplastic syndromes.

The effect of hydroxyurea on foetal haemoglobin (HbF) levels was evaluated in 36 patients of myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders. In 17 (47.2%) patients, HbF levels increased from 1.40±1.17 to 3.03±1.97 per cent after 4 wk therapy with hydroxyurea. In the responders this increase was highly significant (P<0.001). The rise in the HbF levels after hydroxyurea therapy was significant in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia but not in the other groups