Lipid peroxidation and spectrin of RBC membrane in hydroxyurea treated Eβ thalassaemia.

The aim of the present work is to understand the effect of low dose of hydroxyurea (HU) therapy on oxidative damage of RBC membrane in non-transfused Eβ thalassaemia. HU was administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day for 90 consecutive days. The percentage of spectrin and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured. The HbF level was significantly increased after 90 days of HU therapy. MDA level of RBC membrane was decreased. There was no change in PCV, Hb and spectrin content of RBC membrane after HU therapy for 90 days in Eβ thalassaemia. Increment of HbF in HU treated Eβ patient may have some role on the correction of oxidative damage of RBC membrane by inhibiting further degradation of spectrin and by decreasing lipid peroxidation of red cell membrane.