Treatment of β-Thalassemia With Hydroxyurea (HU)——Effects of HU on Globin Gene Expression

摘要

A newly developed method of RT-PCR/competitive PCR for measuring the relative and ab-solute content of globin mRNAs as well as micro-globin chain biosynthetic assay have been used to study thealterations of globin gene expressions in the patients with β-thalassemia pre-and post-hydroxyurea(HU)treatment.It was found for the first time that HU had the effect of enhancing β-globin gene expression insome patients.Two cases with β-thalassemia who were subjected to HU treatment for over two years showeda marked increase in β-globin mRNA level and β-globin chain synthesis,resulting in more effective erythro-poiesis and the alleviation of clinical symptoms.