Five of the 17 genetic anomalies causing thalassemia (a serious blood disorder) among children can be significantly corrected through adequate medication, said researchers at a press conference addressed by them at Karachi Press Club on Sunday.
Dr Tahir Shamsi, a senior hematologist and Dr. Saqib Ansari, a paediatric oncologist said that the 10 year long research conducted by them at National Institute of Blood Diseases has well established that administration of “Hydroxyurea,” can either abolish or markedly reduce the thalassemic children’s dependence on regular blood transfusions. They claimed that 41 percent of the 152 thalassemic children registered with NIBD, after being put on the above mentioned drug were found to be no more anemic and therefore needed no more blood transfusions while dependence of another 39 percent on transfusions, were slashed to half. The researcher acknowledged that no improvement could be found in the condition of 20 percent of the thalassemic patients despite being put on the same medication, in similar dosage, as given to their other counterparts.
Dr. Saqib Ansari mentioned that their research work on the extent of efficacy of the medicine was initiated in 2003 and its results were subsequently published in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, a reputable medical publication of USA, in 2007 and 2011.