Hydroxyurea use during pregnancy: A case report in sickle cell disease and review of the literature

Abstract

A patient being treated for sickle cell disease with hydroxyurea (1 g/d) conceived, and drug treatment was discontinued at nine weeks gestational age. The pregnancy and delivery were complicated by vaso-oclusive crises. A healthy male infant was born at 39 weeks with no evidence of congenital malformations. A literature review, including this case, suggests that the risk of hydroxyurea exposure during in pregnancy may have been overestimated. Further studies are required to determine its safety in pregnancy.