Effect of Intravenous Urea in Invert Sugar on Heme Catabolism in Sickle-Cell Anemia

Abstract

Parenteral administration of urea in invert sugar, said to be effective in managing sickle-cell crises, may act in part by a hemolytic mechanism. Hence, we studied endogenous carbon monoxide production, an index of heme degradation, in five patients with sickle-cell anemia before and after the intravenous infusion of 80 to 90 g of urea in invert sugar solution. A significant increase in carbon monoxide production followed the infusion of urea. This result suggests that the treatment caused an increase in heme turnover.