Acetazolamide in the treatment of sickle cell anemia

Summary and Conclusion Acetazolamide was tried in a dosage of 7 mg. per kg. of body weight in 8 cases of sickle cell anemia in the hope that as a potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitor it will prevent deoxygenation of the haemoglobin, intravascular thrombosis and subsequent destruction of the red cells. Sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride were given to all the cases as well, to prevent metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. The therapy not only did not produce any beneficial effect and prevent a hemolytic crisis, but possibly even produced increased destruction of the red cells so that three of the cases became very severely anemic during the course of the therapy and expired. Acetazolamide is thus not suitable for treatment of cases of sickle cell anemia. From the Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur.