scholarly journals Pregnancy in Sickle Cell Disease Is a Very High-Risk Situation: An Observational Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narcisse Elenga ◽  
Aurélie Adeline ◽  
John Balcaen ◽  
Tania Vaz ◽  
Mélanie Calvez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Intrauterine Fetal Death ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Risk Situation ◽  
High Risk Situation ◽  
Twin Pregnancies

Sickle cell disease is a serious genetic disorder affecting 1/235 births in French Guiana. This study aimed to describe the follow-up of pregnancies among sickle cell disease patients in Cayenne Hospital, in order to highlight the most reported complications. 62 records of pregnancies were analyzed among 44 females with sickle cell disease, between 2007 and 2013. Our results were compared to those of studies conducted in Brazil and Guadeloupe. There were 61 monofetal pregnancies and 2 twin pregnancies, 27 pregnancies among women with SS phenotype, 30 SC pregnancies, and five S-beta pregnancies. The study showed that the follow-up of patients was variable, but no maternal death was found. We also noted that the main maternofetal complications of pregnancies were anemia (36.5%), infection (31.7%), vasoocclusive crisis (20.6%), preeclampsia (17.5%), premature birth (11.1%), intrauterine growth retardation (15.9%), abnormal fetal heart rate (14.3%), and intrauterine fetal death (4.8%). Pregnancies were more at risk among women with SS phenotype. Pregnancy in sickle cell disease patients requires a supported multidisciplinary team including the primary care physician, the obstetrician, and the Integrated Center for Sickle Cell Disease.

scholarly journals Variability of Prognostic Results Based on Biological Parameters in Sickle Cell Disease Cohort Studies in Children: What Should Clinicians Know?

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Julie Sommet ◽  
Enora Le Roux ◽  
Bérengère Koehl ◽  
Zinedine Haouari ◽  
Damir Mohamed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Statistical Analysis Method

Background: Many pediatric studies describe the association between biological parameters (BP) and severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) using different methods to collect or to analyze BP. This article assesses the methods used for collection and subsequent statistical analysis of BP, and how these impact prognostic results in SCD children cohort studies. Methods: Firstly, we identified the collection and statistical methods used in published SCD cohort studies. Secondly, these methods were applied to our cohort of 375 SCD children, to evaluate the association of BP with cerebral vasculopathy (CV). Results: In 16 cohort studies, BP were collected either once or several times during follow-up. The identified methods in the statistical analysis were: (1) one baseline value per patient (2) last known value; (3) mean of all values; (4) modelling of all values in a two-stage approach. Applying these four different statistical methods to our cohort, the results and interpretation of the association between BP and CV were different depending on the method used. Conclusion: The BP prognostic value depends on the chosen statistical analysis method. Appropriate statistical analyses of prognostic factors in cohort studies should be considered and should enable valuable and reproducible conclusions.

scholarly journals Targeting pain at its source in sickle cell disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (1) ◽  
pp. R104-R112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanika Gupta ◽  
Om Jahagirdar ◽  
Kalpna Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Somatosensory System ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Mast Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Central Nervous Systems

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder associated with hemolytic anemia, end-organ damage, reduced survival, and pain. One of the unique features of SCD is recurrent and unpredictable episodes of acute pain due to vasoocclusive crisis requiring hospitalization. Additionally, patients with SCD often develop chronic persistent pain. Currently, sickle cell pain is treated with opioids, an approach limited by adverse effects. Because pain can start at infancy and continue throughout life, preventing the genesis of pain may be relatively better than treating the pain once it has been evoked. Therefore, we provide insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of sickle cell pain that contribute to the activation of the somatosensory system in the peripheral and central nervous systems. These mechanisms include mast cell activation and neurogenic inflammation, peripheral nociceptor sensitization, maladaptation of spinal signals, central sensitization, and modulation of neural circuits in the brain. In this review, we describe potential preventive/therapeutic targets and their targeting with novel pharmacologic and/or integrative approaches to ameliorate sickle cell pain.

scholarly journals Implementation of an Educational Intervention to Optimize Self-Management and Transition Readiness in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3536-3536
Author(s):  
Cecelia Calhoun ◽  
Regina Abel ◽  
Hai Anh Pham ◽  
Shomari Thompson ◽  
Allison A King
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Sexual Development ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Transition Readiness

Abstract Background: The transition from the pediatric setting to adult care is a challenge for many adolescents with chronic disease. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) represent a unique cohort as the timing of psychosocial development of adolescence often coincides with worsening end organ damage. Previously, we used the Adolescent Autonomy Checklist (AAC) modified to include SCD specific tasks that patients with SCD need to practice in order to transition to adult healthcare and independent living. This study sought to use the AAC to measure the effects of skill based educational handouts on improving self-management and transition readiness in adolescents with SCD. Methods: This was a single center, retrospective study approved by the Washington University Institutional Review Board. Inclusion criteria were patients with SCD, age 13-21 years, and completion of pre and post assessments. As standard care, patients from a pediatric hematology clinic completed the AAC-SCD. The AAC-SCD assesses skill level in twelve domains (Table). The tool includes 100 items, and users check "can do already" or "needs practice" for each item. After review with the coordinator, participants were given skill-based handouts based on up to five noted deficits. Patients completed the AAC-SCD at the subsequent clinic visit. In addition to baseline and follow up AAC-SCD data, medical and demographic data were collected via chart abstraction. All data were entered into SPSS for statistical analysis, including descriptives, paired sample T-tests, and bivariate Pearson's correlations. Results: A total of 61 patients completed baseline and follow up. Of those participants, 49.2% were female. The mean age was 15.4 (+ 2.2) years. The genotypic distribution was as follows: 67.2% HbSS, 19.7% HbSC, 3.3% HbS-beta-thal+ and 9.8% HbS-beta-thal0. The majority of patients received healthcare coverage via Medicaid (52.5%), private insurance (45.6%) and 1.6% had no insurance coverage. Twenty-five patients (42.0 %) had a history of stroke or silent cerebral infarct and 34 (55.7%) were currently taking or were previously prescribed hydroxyurea. Formal academic support (IEP or 504 Plan) was reported for 20 (32.8%) of patients. At baseline, patients needed the most help with skills in the kitchen, housekeeping, personal care and leisure. Statistically significant improvements (p< 0.05) occurred in skills related to laundry, housekeeping, healthcare, sexual development and living arrangements. Modest sized and statistically significant correlation between the receipt of the educational handouts and decreased number of items marked "needs help" occurred in the areas of money management (r=-0.27, p=0.044), vocational skills (r=-0.27, p=0.046;) and laundry (r=0.32, p=0.015). A post hoc analysis by age groups 13-15 (n= 34),16-18 (n=24) and 19-21 (n=3) showed a decreased amount of items marked "needs help" in the areas of sexual development for both 13-15 year olds (r=0.42, p=0.024) and 16-18 year olds (r=0.93, p=0.001) as well. Conclusion: Transition skills improved over time among adolescents with SCD. While we cannot say for certain if gains in knowledge occur with age as development progresses or if a formal transition program can be credited, providing educational materials on transition related skills within a clinic setting was associated with significant improvements in three of the domains. Our preliminary data offers insight into what skill deficits may be most amenable to educational interventions based on age group. As is the case with medical management, the development of a multimodal intervention is needed to prepare adolescents with SCD to transition to adult care and independent living. Clinic based education is a simple intervention that could be one component of future approaches to transition. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Ischemic Stroke in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in the Post-STOP Era

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 68-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet L. Kwiatkowski ◽  
Julie Kanter ◽  
Heather J. Fullerton ◽  
Jenifer Voeks ◽  
Ellen Debenham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell Anemia ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Clinical Series ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background: The Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) and Optimizing Primary Stroke Prevention in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP 2) established routine transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) screening with indefinite chronic red cell transfusions (CRCT) for children with abnormal TCD as standard of care. To identify children at high-risk of stroke, annual TCD screening is recommended from ages 2 to 16 years, with more frequent monitoring if the result is not normal. A reduction in stroke incidence in children with SCD has been reported in several clinical series and analyses utilizing large hospital databases when comparing rates before and after the publication of the STOP study in 1998. We sought to determine the rate of first ischemic stroke in a multicenter cohort of children who had previously participated in the STOP and/or STOP 2 trials and to determine whether these strokes were screening or treatment failures. Subjects and Methods: Between 1995 and 2005, STOP and STOP 2 (STOP/2) were conducted at 26 sites in the US and Canada. These studies included 3,835 children, ages 2 to 16 y with SCD type SS or S-beta-0-thalassemia. Participation in STOP/2 ranged from a single screening TCD to randomization. STOP 2 also had an observational arm for children on CRCT for abnormal TCD whose TCD had not reverted to normal. The Post-STOP study was designed to follow-up the outcomes of children who participated in one or both trials. 19 of the 26 original study sites participated in Post-STOP, contributing a total of 3,539 (92%) of the STOP/2 subjects. After exit from STOP/2, these children received TCD screening and treatment according to local practices. Data abstractors visited each clinical site and obtained retrospective data from STOP/2 study exit to 2012-2014 (depending on site) including follow-up TCD and brain imaging results, clinical information, and laboratory results. Two vascular neurologists, blinded to STOP/2 status and prior TCD and neuroimaging results, reviewed source records to confirm all ischemic strokes, defined as a symptomatic cerebral infarction; discordant opinions were resolved through discussion. For the first Post-STOP ischemic stroke, prior TCD result and treatment history subsequently were analyzed. Results: Of the 3,539 subjects, follow-up data were available for 2,850 (81%). Twelve children who had a stroke during STOP or STOP2 were excluded from these analyses resulting in data on 2,838 subjects. The mean age at the start of Post-STOP was 10.5 y and mean duration of follow-up after exiting STOP/2 was 9.1 y. A total of 69 first ischemic strokes occurred in the Post-STOP observation period (incidence 0.27 per 100 pt years). The mean age at time of stroke was 14.4±6.2 (median 13.8, range 3.5-28.9) y. Twenty-five of the 69 patients (36%) had documented abnormal TCD (STOP/2 or Post-STOP) prior to the stroke; 15 (60%) were receiving CRCT and 9 (36%) were not (treatment data not available for 1 subject). Among the 44 subjects without documented abnormal TCD, 29 (66%) had not had TCD re-screen in the Post-STOP period prior to the event; 7 of these 29 (24%) were 16 y or older at the start of Post-STOP, which is beyond the recommended screening age. Four of the 44 (9%) patients had inadequate TCD in Post-STOP (1 to 10.7 y prior to event). Six (14%) had normal TCD more than a year before the event (1.2 - 4 y); all but one of these children were younger than 16 y at the time of that TCD. Only 5 (11%) had a documented normal TCD less than 1 year prior to the event. Conclusions: In the Post-STOP era, the rate of first ischemic stroke was substantially lower than that reported in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease, prior to implementation of TCD screening. Many (39%) of the Post-STOP ischemic strokes were associated with a failure to re-screen according to current guidelines, while only 11% occurred in children who had had recent low-risk TCD. Among those known to be at high risk prior to stroke, treatment refusal or inadequate treatment may have contributed. While TCD screening and treatment are effective at reducing ischemic stroke in clinical practice, significant gaps in screening and treatment, even at sites experienced in the STOP protocol, remain to be addressed. Closing these gaps should provide yet further reduction of ischemic stroke in SCD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease and Other Haemoglobin Variants in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Akaba Kingsley ◽  
Ofem Enang ◽  
Ofonime Essien ◽  
Annette Legogie ◽  
Omini Cletus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Cross River State

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder worldwide with a global prevalence of 20-25 million. About 12-15 million affected persons are in Sub-Sahara Africa with Nigeria bearing the highest burden of people living with sickle cell disease. SCD is a disease characterized as an autosomal, recessive, heterogeneous, and a monogenetic disorder caused by an A-to-T point mutation in the β-globin gene responsible for the production of abnormal hemoglobin S (HbS), which polymerizes in the deoxygenated state and results in the sickling of erythrocytes.  Haemoglobin variants are mutant forms of haemoglobin in a population usually occurring as a result of genetic changes in specific genes, or globins that causes change on alterations in the amino acid. They could affect the structure, behavior, the production rate and the stability of the specific gene. Well-known haemoglobin variants such as sick-cell anaemia are responsible for diseases and are considered haemoglobinopathies. Other variants cause no detectable pathology and are thus considered as non-pathological variants. Aim: The study is aimed at evaluating the burden of sickle cell disease and other haemoglobin variants in Calabar, South-South Nigeria. Methods: This is a retrospective study done at the haematology laboratory of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis at alkaline pH was used for the evaluation of haemoglobinopathies. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 spreadsheet and analysed with the IBM SPSS Version 22. Data were summarized into percentage of different phenotypes. Results: Results of the total 3648 haemoglobin electrophoresis recorded, 1368 (37.50%) were male while the remaining 2280 (62.5%) females given a male to female ratio of 1:1.7. Five haemoglobin phenotypes were identified as HbAA, HbAS, HbAC, HbSC and HbSS. The overall average values of their prevalence were HbAA 64.78%, HbAS 32.62%, HbSS 2.14%, HbAC 0.33%, HbSC 0.14%. Thus, the prevalence of SCD (Prevalence of HbSS+HbSC) was 2.28%. The highest proportion of SCD was observed in 2011 with least in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of SCD and other haemoglobin variants in Calabar is similar to that of the national prevalence rate. There is need for continuous enlightenment and premarital counselling on the pattern of inheritance of SCD most especially with the increased burden of sickle traits in the environment has reported in this study.

scholarly journals Sickle Cell Disease: An Overview of Oral Health Considerations for Pediatric Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Dafni Eleftherou ◽  
Aristidis Arhakis ◽  
Sotiria Davidopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
The Body ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Preventive Dental Care ◽  
Periodontal Inflammation

Aim: This literature review aims to update the evidence for orofacial manifestations and current treatment recommendations for children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Background: Sickle cell disease is a frequent hemoglobinopathy and a life-threatening genetic disorder. The lifelong condition is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and vaso-occlusive crisis that may occur in a variable range of clinical presentations in different regions of the body, including the oral cavity. Review results: This review explored the most common orofacial alterations of pediatric patients with SCD. Dental caries is a common finding in SCD pediatric patients, especially in those who are socio-economically vulnerable. Moreover, malocclusions occur in high prevalence in SCD pediatric patients. Other oral health complications seen in SCD patients include periodontal inflammation, bone changes, infections, mental nerve neuropathy, facial overgrowth, delayed tooth eruption, dental anomalies, pulp necrosis, soft tissue alterations and salivary changes. Dental infections may trigger a vaso-occlusive crisis leading the patient to a higher probability on arriving in hospital emergency departments and in need for further hospital admission to deal with the correlated complications. Thus, preventive dental care and non-invasive dental procedures are the principal focus in SCD patients in order to avoid possible subsequent complications. Conclusion: The review showed that in pediatric patients with SCD the risk for orofacial manifestations and complications depends not only on the presence of SCD but also on other confounding factors such as oral hygiene, diet habits and social conditions. Moreover, more well-designed epidemiological studies are necessary to assess the real link between SCD disease and its impact on stomatognathic health.

Perspective From the American Academy of Pediatrics

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 913-914
Author(s):  
Neil A. Holtzman
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
American Academy ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Cooperative Study ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
American Academy Of Pediatrics

Ten years ago, the initial report of the Committee on Genetics of the American Academy of Pediatrics was published, drawing heavily on the landmark report published 2 years earlier by the National Academy of Sciences. That report stated that new mass screening tests should not be implemented without pilot studies or facilities for follow-up. I would like to deal with the efficacy of screening as determined by pilot studies, the effectiveness of routine screening, and the importance of follow-up. The Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease was essentially the first phase of a large pilot program that systematically demonstrated that sepsis, meningitis, and acute splenic sequestration occurred in young infants with sickle cell disease. Previous reports suggested, and the cooperative study corroborated, that without prior diagnosis many of these infants would die. The randomized trial of oral penicillin prophylaxis was the second phase of the pilot program, demonstrating that early treatment significantly reduced mortality. Thus, the results of this pilot program, conducted with support of the National Institutes of Health, documented that newborn screening for sickle cell disease satisfied a major criterion for screening: An intervention capable of reducing mortality would be efficacious if applied before the usual age of clinical diagnosis. The pilot program was conducted under ideal conditions. The findings are not enough to conclude that screening for sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies will always be effective when performed routinely.

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