Hydroxyurea: an overview

Hydroxyurea has been a compound of scientific and clinical interest for ove r 100 years. A small molecule with many biological properties, hydroxyurea is used in a number of myeloproliferative, neoplastic, and non-hematologica l diseases. Recently, the agent has been investigated for use in the treatm ent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease. Hydroxyurea is associate d with dose related bone marrow suppression, crosses the placenta, and is e xcreted in breast milk. Toxicity is often managed through dose titration. A lthough adequate attention must be paid to the drug's use in pregnancy and during breast feeding, hydroxyurea's ease of administration, multiplicity o f clinical effects, and low cost ensure the drug a place in therapy for yea rs to come.