What causes sickle cell disease (SCD) and how to treat it are not fully understood by doctors, but medications to treat sickle cell usually act by increasing fetal hemoglobin or nitric oxide levels in the blood and improving cell hydration. Fetal hemoglobin is present in high amounts in newborns and smaller amounts in older children and adults. Dr. Kenneth Ataga states that raising levels of fetal hemoglobin by even a few percent reduces the number of damaged cells. Decreasing inflammation is also a beneficial effect of sickle cell medications.
Hydroxyurea
Hydroxyurea (known by the drug names Droxia or Hydrea) is currently the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat sickle cell disease (SCD), according to Dr. Kenneth Ataga. Patients who use this drug experience fewer hospital visits, less chest pain, and need fewer blood transfusions to manage the disease.
The drug is known to interfere with the growth of cancer cells and for SCD patients, it increases the flexibility of damaged red blood cells and increases fetal hemoglobin. Hydroxyurea should not be taken by patients with severe anemia or bone marrow problems, nor should it be taken by pregnant women, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Clotrimazole and Magnesium Supplements
In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells become dehydrated, which causes loss of necessary minerals and damages the hemoglobin. The Mayo Clinic points out that clotrimazole (Lotrimin) may help reduce water loss and the number of damaged cells that form. Treatment with simple magnesium supplements has been an effective method of controlling this symptom of sickle cell disease. Magnesium supplements and clotrimazole are used in addition to other therapies, according to Dr. Ataga.
Simvastatin
Simvastatin (Zocor) is currently being studied by researchers from the Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Dr. Kenneth Ataga states that statin drugs and anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids have been shown to reduce chest pain and inflammation in patients with sickle cell disease. These drugs are being explored for treatment during acute pain episodes and to prevent injury to blood vessels.
HDAC Inhibitors
A set of mood stabilizing drugs known as HDAC inhibitors are being studied in connection with sickle cell disease. These drugs work within the DNA of cells and have already been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease as well as being anticancer medications, according to Kenneth Ataga.
