Aims & Objectives: Sickle cell anemia is a chronic hemolytic disease presented by special clinical course attributed to ischemic changes resulting from vascular occlusion by masses of sickle cells. In-vitro studies with piracetam indicate that it has potential for inhibition and reversal of the process of sickling of erythrocytes so it has been reported to be an effective drug for the treatment of patients with SCA. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate and compare the effect of different doses of Piracetam on clinical status and laboratory investigations of sickle cell anemia patients.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 30 sickle cell anemia patients (14 females), aged ranged from 5 to 16 years old and their weights ranged from 18kg to 33kg; from hematology clinic at Beni Suef University Hospital. Patients were divided into three equal groups. Group A received 80mg/kg/day piracetam, group B received 160mg/kg/day piracetam and group C represents the control group which did not receive Piracetam. Patients were treated and followed for 6 month. They were represented to full history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations and determination of frequency of packed red cells transfusion, crises and hospitalization on admission and every month for six months.
Results: There was an improvement in general health of children after therapy and pallor, decrease in the elevated serum ferritin level, decrease in frequency of crises and hospitalization, decrease in the frequency of transfusion, increase in packed red cells transfusion intervals and increase in hemoglobin level. The increase in Reticulocyte count% was in all groups, more in control group, but still with no significant difference between the three groups.
Conclusion: Dose of 160mg/kg/day of Piracetam showed more improvement than dose 80mg/kg/day in pallor and laboratory findings except Reticulocyte count% and more effective in reduction of frequency of transfusion, crises and hospitalisation.
Key words: Sickle cell anemia, Painful sickle cell crises, hemoglobin level, serum ferritin, Piracetam.
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