Conclusions
To conclude, our large study has shown clearly that SLDPQ did not affect any of the posttreatment parameters of Hb dynamics and has provided additional reassuring evidence of its tolerability. Moreover, G6PDd was only associated with one negative finding—a lower mean baseline Hb concentration. Thereafter, it had a positive posttreatment effect on achieving Hb recovery and a higher D42 Hb but, crucially, did not affect the nadir Hb or the initial fall in Hb. Moreover, children with a Hb < 8 g/dL had a robust posttreatment Hb recovery, allaying anxieties that a lower baseline Hb is necessarily harmful.Our findings strongly support the notion that using SDLPQ in G6PDd patients is safe and does not increase the risk of subsequent blood transfusion. Indeed, equal numbers of G6PDd and G6PD normal patients were transfused and our overall transfusion rate was just under 1% [