Lactation is contraindicated for women with sickle cell anemia receiving hydroxyurea therapy, despite sparse pharmacokinetics data. In 16 women who were lactating volunteers, we documented hydroxyurea transferred into breastmilk with a relative infant dosage of 3.4%, which is below the recommended 5%-10% safety threshold. Breastfeeding should be permitted for women taking daily oral hydroxyurea.
Keywords: breastfeeding; hydroxyurea; pharmacokinetics; sickle cell anemia.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.