Sodium Cyanate as a Potential Treatment for Sickle-Cell Disease

Abstract
Thirty-one patients with sickle-cell disease, seven to 49 years of age, were given the antisickling drug sodium cyanate (10 to 35 mg per kilogram of body weight per day by mouth) for six to 18 months. Carbamylation of the amino-terminal valine of hemoglobin was dose-related and ranged from 0.03 to 0.67 moles of carbamyl group per mole of hemoglobin tetramer. No toxic effects were observed at a dosage of 35 mg per kilogram per day or less. Occasional gastrointestinal distress and drowsiness occurred.