Efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea in patients with essential thrombocythemia

Hydroxy-urea has emerged as the treatment of choice in patients with essent ial thrombocythemia and an high risk of thrombosis because of its efficacy and only rare acute toxicity However, there is some concern regarding the p otential role of this drug in enhancing the risk of leukemic transformation . This risk suggests not to use hydroxyurea in young patients at low-risk f or thrombosis. In these cases, major or fatal vascular occlusive complicati ons are rare, and no data are available on the effectiveness of HU in reduc ing this rate. Sequential multiple chemotherapy, such busulphan followed by HU, should be avoided in any case because of the high risk of secondary le ukemias. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.