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Previous Volume 359:98-99 July 3, 2008 Number 1 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: In her article on hydroxyurea for the treatment of sickle cell anemia, Platt (March 27 issue)¹ states that "the red cells of a normal adult generally contain almost 100% hemoglobin A and those of a person with sickle cell anemia contain almost 100% sickle hemoglobin." This statement is not entirely accurate. In the normal adult, hemoglobin A constitutes about 97% of the total hemoglobin, hemoglobin A₂ constitutes about 2%, and hemoglobin F constitutes about 1%.²

Harris V.K. Naina, M.B., B.S.
Samar Harris, M.B., B.S.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Rochester, MN 55901
naina.harris@mayo.edu

1. Platt OS. Hydroxyurea for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. N Engl J Med 2008;358:1362-1369. [Free Full Text]
2. Schecter AN, Ajioka RS, Kushner JP. Hemoglobin and heme biosynthesis. In: Young NS, Gerson SL, High KA, eds. Clinical hematology. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2006:16-33.

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