Mixture of a free radical scavenger and an iron chelator for the treatment of sickle cell disease

摘要

A mixture of a free radical scavenger containing a thiol group and a membrane-permeable iron chelator is used in the treatment of sickle cell anaemia and similar blood disorders. The scavenger may be a compound of general formula RNHCH(R')CO* subscript minus *H in which R is H, CH* superscript dot; dot above *(CH* subscript minus *) n CO where n is 0 or 1, or HS(CH* subscript minus *) m CO where m is 1 or 2 and R' is H, CH* superscript dot; dot above *, C* subscript minus *H* (large)right angle bracket* or HSCH* subscript minus * with the proviso that the compound contains a single SH group, and may particularly be cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-mercaptoacetylglycine or N-mercaptopropionylglycine. The chelator may be a hydroxypyridone compound.