L-Glutamine for sickle cell anemia: More questions than answers

Abstract

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved 2 medications for sickle cell anemia (SCA): hydroxyurea for children and L-glutamine for children and adults. The approval of hydroxyurea was long overdue, but the approval of L-glutamine was a surprise to many. Any effective new treatment for SCA is a welcome advance, but there are few published studies of L-glutamine as a specific treatment for SCA. Accordingly, there are many unanswered questions about its efficacy, safety, and role in current therapy.