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{{WBRQuestion
{{WBRQuestion
|QuestionAuthor={{Rim}}
|QuestionAuthor={{Rim}} {{Alison}}
|ExamType=USMLE Step 1
|ExamType=USMLE Step 1
|MainCategory=Pharmacology
|MainCategory=Pharmacology
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[[Image:WBR0327.jpg|350px]]
[[Image:WBR0327.jpg|350px]]
|Explanation=The patient is most likely diagnosed with sickle cell disease. A peripheral smear demonstrates sickle-looking red blood cells, consistent with the diagnosis. Patients with sickle cell disease often require hydroxyurea, which provides symptomatic relief by increasing HbF levels. HbF has high affinity for oxygen and may thus delivery of oxygen to peripheral tissues in patients with SCD will be facilitated with hydroxyurea. Hydroxyurea is originally a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits ribonucleotide reductase to decrease DNA synthesis at the S-phase. It is usually used for cancers such as melanoma and CML. Common side effects of hydroxyurea include Gi symptoms, bone marrow suppression, and increased risk of developing leukemias.
|Explanation=The patient in this scenario is most likely diagnosed with sickle cell disease. A peripheral smear demonstrates sickle-looking red blood cells, consistent with the diagnosis. Patients with sickle cell disease often require hydroxyurea, which provides symptomatic relief by increasing HbF levels. HbF has high affinity for oxygen and may aid in the delivery of oxygen to peripheral tissues in patients with SCD. Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent that hinders ribonucleotide reductase ability to decrease DNA synthesis during S-phase. It is typically used to treat cancers, such as melanoma and CML. Common side effects of hydroxyurea include GI symptoms, bone marrow suppression, and an increased risk of developing leukemias.


|EducationalObjectives= Hydroxyurea is used in patients with sickle cell disease to increase HbF levels.
|EducationalObjectives= Hydroxyurea often administered to patients with sickle cell disease in order to increase HbF levels.


|AnswerA=Increase in HbF levels
|AnswerA=Increase in HbF levels
|AnswerAExp=Hydroxyurea is especially beneficial in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) because it increases HbF levels.
|AnswerAExp=Hydroxyurea is beneficial in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) because it increases HbF levels.
|AnswerB=Decrease in thymidylate synthase activity
|AnswerB=Decrease in thymidylate synthase activity
|AnswerBExp=5-Fluorouracil is known to inhibit thymidylate synthase.
|AnswerBExp=5-Fluorouracil is known to inhibit thymidylate synthase.
|AnswerC=Increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity
|AnswerC=Increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity
|AnswerCExp=Hydroxyurea inhibits ribonucleotide reductase.
|AnswerCExp=Hydroxyurea inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, which is not beneficial to patients with SCD.
|AnswerD=Increase in HbA levels
|AnswerD=Increase in HbA levels
|AnswerDExp=Patients with SCD have low HbA levels.
|AnswerDExp=Patients with SCD have low HbA levels, but hydroxyurea is beneficial in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) because it increases HbF levels.
|AnswerE=Systemic vasodilatory effect
|AnswerE=Systemic vasodilatory effect
|AnswerEExp=Vasodilation is helpful for patients with SCD, but this is not the mechanism by which hydroxyurea is beneficial for these patients.
|AnswerEExp=Vasodilation is helpful for patients with SCD, but is not the mechanism by which hydroxyurea is beneficial.
|RightAnswer=A
|RightAnswer=A
|WBRKeyword=HbF, hemoglobin, hemoglobinopathy, hemoglinopathies, sickle, cell, disease, peripheral, smear, HbC, HbS, hydroxyurea, therapeutic, effect
|WBRKeyword=HbF, hemoglobin, hemoglobinopathy, hemoglinopathies, sickle cell disease, peripheral, HbC, HbS, hydroxyurea,
|Approved=No
|Approved=Yes
}}

Revision as of 14:12, 14 July 2014

{{WBRQuestion |QuestionAuthor=Rim Halaby, M.D. [1] (Reviewed by Alison Leibowitz) |ExamType=USMLE Step 1 |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |MainCategory=Pharmacology |SubCategory=Hematology |Prompt=Brought by his parents, a 3-year-old African American male presents to the ER with irritability and swelling in the hands and feet. A peripheral smear (illustrated below) demonstrates findings consistent with the patient's condition. To relieve his symptoms, the patient is started on a chemotherapeutic agent. By which of the following mechanisms does the prescribed medication help relieve the patient's symptoms?

|Explanation=The patient in this scenario is most likely diagnosed with sickle cell disease. A peripheral smear demonstrates sickle-looking red blood cells, consistent with the diagnosis. Patients with sickle cell disease often require hydroxyurea, which provides symptomatic relief by increasing HbF levels. HbF has high affinity for oxygen and may aid in the delivery of oxygen to peripheral tissues in patients with SCD. Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent that hinders ribonucleotide reductase ability to decrease DNA synthesis during S-phase. It is typically used to treat cancers, such as melanoma and CML. Common side effects of hydroxyurea include GI symptoms, bone marrow suppression, and an increased risk of developing leukemias.

|EducationalObjectives= Hydroxyurea often administered to patients with sickle cell disease in order to increase HbF levels.

|AnswerA=Increase in HbF levels |AnswerAExp=Hydroxyurea is beneficial in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) because it increases HbF levels. |AnswerB=Decrease in thymidylate synthase activity |AnswerBExp=5-Fluorouracil is known to inhibit thymidylate synthase. |AnswerC=Increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity |AnswerCExp=Hydroxyurea inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, which is not beneficial to patients with SCD. |AnswerD=Increase in HbA levels |AnswerDExp=Patients with SCD have low HbA levels, but hydroxyurea is beneficial in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) because it increases HbF levels. |AnswerE=Systemic vasodilatory effect |AnswerEExp=Vasodilation is helpful for patients with SCD, but is not the mechanism by which hydroxyurea is beneficial. |RightAnswer=A |WBRKeyword=HbF, hemoglobin, hemoglobinopathy, hemoglinopathies, sickle cell disease, peripheral, HbC, HbS, hydroxyurea, |Approved=Yes