Peer-reviewed article
Oxidative Stress Burden in Paediatric Sickle Cell Anaemia: Effects of Hydroxyurea Therapy, Disease Severity, and Socioeconomic Factors
Kazeem Olanrewaju Amoo, Busayo Gideon Ologun, Adura Emmanuel Adebunmi, Glory Olalekan Adebajo ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looked at oxidative stress (a type of cell damage linked to sickle cell complications) in 110 children aged 2-17 with sickle cell anaemia at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. Half of the children took hydroxyurea and half did not. Children on hydroxyurea had lower white blood cell counts. Almost all measures of oxidative stress and antioxidant levels were similar between the two groups. They were also similar across disease severity levels and socioeconomic classes. The authors conclude that hydroxyurea helps blood counts but does little for oxidative stress, so extra approaches may be needed.
Key points
- 110 children with sickle cell anaemia: 55 hydroxyurea users and 55 non-users.
- White blood cell counts were significantly lower in hydroxyurea users (p = 0.018).
- Malondialdehyde was lower in hydroxyurea users, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.181).
- No significant differences were found in other oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, vitamins or total antioxidant capacity between users and non-users.
- Oxidative and antioxidant measures did not differ by disease severity or socioeconomic class.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional at a single hospital, so it cannot show how oxidative stress changes over time or whether hydroxyurea caused any differences. The abstract does not give details on how the groups were selected, dose or duration of hydroxyurea, or effects on clinical outcomes.
Abstract
Background: Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia (SCA), contributing to haemolysis, endothelial dysfunction, and disease complications.Hydroxyurea (HU), the main disease-modifying therapy for SCA, may influence oxidative balance; however, evidence in children from resource-limited settings remains limited.Objective: To evaluate oxidative stress and antioxidant status among children with sickle cell anaemia, comparing hydroxyurea users and non-users, and to examine variations according to clinical disease severity and socioeconomic status.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included 110 children with SCA aged 2-17 years attending Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa (WGH).Participants were stratified into HU users (n = 55) and non-HU users (n = 55).Oxidative stress markers, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and antioxidant vitamins were measured using Waters' high performance liquid chromatography methods.Disease severity was assessed using the Kuti and Adegoke severity scale, while socioeconomic status was classified using the Olusanya socioeconomic classification.Data was analyzed using appropriate parametric tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.Results: Hydroxyurea users had significantly lower white blood cell counts compared with non-users (p = 0.018).Although mean malondialdehyde level was lower in HU users, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.181).No significant differences were observed in other oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant vitamins, or total antioxidant capacity between HU users and non-users.Oxidative and antioxidant parameters did not differ significantly across disease severity categories or socioeconomic classes.Conclusion: Children with sickle cell anaemia exhibit a persistent oxidative burden irrespective of hydroxyurea use, disease severity, or socioeconomic status.While hydroxyurea demonstrates favourable haematological effects, its impact on oxidative stress appears limited.Adjunctive strategies targeting oxidative stress may be necessary to improve clinical outcomes in paediatric SCA.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Hydroxyurea therapy, compared with no hydroxyurea
- Population
- 110 children aged 2-17 years with sickle cell anaemia attending Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria
Key finding
No significant differences in most oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant vitamins or total antioxidant capacity between users and non-users.
Amoo et al. · OpenAlex - Early Childhood · 7 Oct 2026