scholarly journals How I treat and manage strokes in sickle cell disease

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 125 (22) ◽  
pp. 3401-3410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adetola A. Kassim ◽  
Najibah A. Galadanci ◽  
Sumit Pruthi ◽  
Michael R. DeBaun

Abstract Neurologic complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD). In children with sickle cell anemia, routine use of transcranial Doppler screening, coupled with regular blood transfusion therapy, has decreased the prevalence of overt stroke from ∼11% to 1%. Limited evidence is available to guide acute and chronic management of individuals with SCD and strokes. Current management strategies are based primarily on single arm clinical trials and observational studies, coupled with principles of neurology and hematology. Initial management of a focal neurologic deficit includes evaluation by a multidisciplinary team (a hematologist, neurologist, neuroradiologist, and transfusion medicine specialist); prompt neuro-imaging and an initial blood transfusion (simple followed immediately by an exchange transfusion or only exchange transfusion) is recommended if the hemoglobin is >4 gm/dL and <10 gm/dL. Standard therapy for secondary prevention of strokes and silent cerebral infarcts includes regular blood transfusion therapy and in selected cases, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A critical component of the medical care following an infarct is cognitive and physical rehabilitation. We will discuss our strategy of acute and long-term management of strokes in SCD.

Hematology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (1) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. DeBaun

Abstract Overt strokes, previously one of the most common neurological complications in sickle cell disease (SCD), have become far less frequent with routine transcranial Doppler (TCD) assessment followed by regular blood transfusion therapy. Nevertheless, children and adults with SCD continue to have overt strokes, and in the foreseeable future will continue to require secondary prevention of strokes. With the exception of the most recently completed “Stroke With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea” Trial (SWiTCH; NCT00122980), randomized trials providing best evidence for long-term management of overt strokes in SCD is lacking. Instead of randomized clinical trials, a series of observational and single-arm studies have predominated. This review assesses the best available evidence for acute and chronic management of overt stroke and the efficacy of regular blood transfusion therapy, hydroxyurea therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), including matched sibling donor and unrelated HSCT.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Taylor ◽  
Paul Horn ◽  
Heidi Sucharew ◽  
Todd A Abruzzo ◽  
Jane Khoury

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an important risk factor for stroke in children. Natural history studies demonstrate that greater than 10% of hemoglobin SS patients suffered ischemic stroke prior to age 20 years. In 1998, the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) successfully demonstrated the role for routine transfusion therapy in reducing stroke in at risk SCD patients. Fullerton and colleagues then found that first time stroke in SCD decreased in Californian children in the 2 years following STOP. We investigated the stroke rate and health care utilization of children with SCD for two calendar years in the decade following publication of the STOP trial using a national inpatient database. Methods: The 2000 and 2009 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) were used for analysis. SCD and stroke cases were identified by ICD-9 codes 282.6x, 430, 431, 432.9, 434.X1, 434.9, 435.9. We queried the KID procedural clinical classification software for utilization of services pertinent to SCD and stroke; transfusion, MRI, and cerebral angio. Results: In 2000, SCD was a discharge diagnosis in 34,294 children and 158 (0.46%) children had SCD and stroke. By 2009, discharges with SCD rose to 37,082 children with 212 (0.57%) children carrying both diagnoses. In 2000 and 2009, AIS is the most common stroke type at 83%, males account for 53% of stroke and black race was reported by 92% of SCD and stroke subjects. Procedure utilization is higher in the SCD and stroke population than in SCD without stroke (Figure 1). Blood transfusion is the most common procedure in both study years, significantly higher in stroke subjects. Conclusion: For pediatric inpatients with SCD, blood transfusion and diagnostic cerebrovascular procedures were significantly more common in the cohort with comorbid stroke. In the decade after STOP, children hospitalized with SCD and stroke represented less than 0.6% of the total inpatient SCD population.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayera H El Sherif ◽  
Mahmoud A Kenny ◽  
Waheed S Elhalfawy

Abstract Background Sickle cell disease can affect retina of eye via vaso-occulsive changes that occur in micro-vessels of retina which could be analysed by using Fundus Fluorescein Angiography. Aim To analyze macular microvascular alternation in patients with SCD by Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) and to assess the role of potentially contributory Clinico-pathological factors including Trans-Cranial Doppler, genotypes, hydroxyurea, transfusion therapy and finally iron overload state on the development of macular alterations. Method This was across-sectional study which included 30 Sickle cell disease patients randomly recruited from the Paediatric Haematology clinic, children Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Complete blood count (CBC), Trans-Cranial Doppler (TCD) and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography. Results In our study, there were 30 patients with mean age (14.1± 4.02), 5 patients had abnormal/conditional Trans-Cranial, 15 patients had Vaso-occlusive crises, 11 patients were on regular simple blood transfusion; all 30 studied sickle cell disease patients had normal Fundus Fluorescein Angiography and eye examination and only one patient hadabnormal visual acuity;A 29 years oldgirl who had five attacks of cerebral strokes last year, on regular simple blood transfusion and Hydroxyurea treatment with abnormal TCD and recurrent Vaso-occlusive crises in last two years, Although her vision is hand movement yet Fundus Fluorescein Angiography was normal. Conclusion we didn’t find any Retinal microvascular alternation in our studied SCD patients using Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, we related our results to the fact that our studied SCD patients were young and all our studied patients were on hydroxyurea therapy with fair compliance, further studies using large sample size are warranted in order to illustrate the utility of Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) as a tool for better detection of sickle retinopathy.


Author(s):  
Susanna A. Curtis ◽  
Balbuena-Merle Raisa ◽  
John D. Roberts ◽  
Jeanne E. Hendrickson ◽  
Joanna Starrels ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204062072095500
Author(s):  
Ifeyinwa Osunkwo ◽  
Deepa Manwani ◽  
Julie Kanter

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) are living further into adulthood in high-resource countries. However, despite increased quantity of life, recurrent, acute painful episodes cause significant morbidity for affected individuals. These SCD-related painful episodes, also referred to as vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), have multifactorial causes, and they often occur as a result of multicellular aggregation and vascular adherence of red blood cells, neutrophils, and platelets, leading to recurrent and unpredictable occlusion of the microcirculation. In addition to severe pain, long-term complications of vaso-occlusion may include damage to muscle and/or bone, in addition to vital organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, and brain. Severe pain associated with VOCs also has a substantial detrimental impact on quality of life for individuals with SCD, and is associated with increased health care utilization, financial hardship, and impairments in education and vocation attainment. Previous treatments have targeted primarily SCD symptom management, or were broad nontargeted therapies, and include oral or parenteral hydration, analgesics (including opioids), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and various other types of nonpharmacologic pain management strategies to treat the pain associated with VOC. With increased understanding of the pathophysiology of VOCs, there are several new potential therapies that specifically target the pathologic process of vaso-occlusion. These new therapies may reduce cell adhesion and inflammation, leading to decreased incidence of VOCs and prevention of end-organ damage. In this review, we consider the benefits and limitations of current treatments to reduce the occurrence of VOCs in individuals with SCD and the potential impact of emerging treatments on future disease management.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 277-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terianne Lindsey ◽  
Nutrena Watts-Tate ◽  
Elaine Southwood ◽  
Julie Routhieaux ◽  
Janice Beatty ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-164
Author(s):  
O Oniyangi ◽  
P Ahmed ◽  
OT Otuneye ◽  
J Okon ◽  
HA Aikhionbare ◽  
...  

Background: Strokes occur in sickle cell disease (SCD), and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of strokes amongst childrenwith SCD, and document the major clinical features, complications, effect of treatment with chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) and outcome.Methods: A descriptive retrospective study of SCD children with strokes seen at the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria over a 2.5 year period from January 2009 – June 2012. Data was collected by scrutinizing case files obtained from the hospital medical records unit. Information obtained included demographic data, clinical features, packed cell volume (PCV), brain imaging, long term neurologic deficits, effect of CTT, stroke recurrence and outcome.Results: There were 31 children with strokes among 596 children with SCD documented in the register, giving a prevalence of 5.2%. Twenty six (26) case notes were retrieved. There were 12 males and 14 females, M: F ratio of 0.9:1; mean age was 6.4 years (SD 3.4) range: 1 year 7 months – 14 years; mean PCV at the time of strokes was 21.1% (SD 3.9) range 14 –29%. All (100%) had Haemoglobin SS on electrophoresis. Presentationswere convulsions 18, inability to use limbs 11, weakness of limbs 10; long term neurological deficits were hemiplegia 11, cognition loss 11. Three (3) children had no deficits. Brain imaging (Computed Tomography Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging) done in 16 (61.5%) children showed cerebral atrophy in 10, acute cerebral infarcts in 9, chronic cerebral infarcts in 6, acute intra cranial haemorrhage in 1 and normal imagings in 4 children. Twelve (12) children (46.2%) children had recurrences of stroke ranging in number from 1 to 4, which occurred 6 months to 3 years afterthe initial stroke. There were no statistical significant differences between the children with recurrences of stroke compared to those without regarding the age, sex, weight or PCVs p > 0.05. Fifteen (15) children (57.7%) wereenrolled in CTT. Two (2) out of 7 children (28.6%) that had regular CTT had stroke recurrence; compared to 5 out of 11 children (45.4%) with no CTT (p > 0.05). Four (4) out of 6 (66.7%) children with irregular CTT and 1 of 2 children who stopped CTT had stroke recurrence.Outcome: 17 children were alive, 7 were lost to follow up, 1 died and 1 was referred to another center.Conclusion: Strokes were an important cause of morbidity in Nigerianchildren with SCD, with major long term neurologic deficits. CTT appearedbeneficial in preventing stroke recurrences. Primary prevention strategy by Trans Cranial Doppler ultrasound studies of the cerebral arteries, with the aim of promptly initiating appropriate preventive therapy for stroke is strongly advocated.Key words: Sickle cell disease, Stroke, Children, Chronic Transfusion Therapy


1997 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohail Rana ◽  
Patricia E. Houston ◽  
Narita Surana ◽  
Eglal I. Shalaby-Rana ◽  
Oswaldo L. Castro

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica L. Hulbert ◽  
Robert C. McKinstry ◽  
JoAnne L. Lacey ◽  
Christopher J. Moran ◽  
Julie A. Panepinto ◽  
...  

Abstract Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and strokes receive blood transfusion therapy for secondary stroke prevention; despite this, approximately 20% experience second overt strokes. Given this rate of second overt strokes and the clinical significance of silent cerebral infarcts, we tested the hypothesis that silent cerebral infarcts occur among children with SCD being transfused for secondary stroke prevention. A prospective cohort enrolled children with SCD and overt strokes at 7 academic centers. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain were scheduled approximately every 1 to 2 years; studies were reviewed by a panel of neuroradiologists. Eligibility criteria included regularly scheduled blood transfusion therapy. Forty children were included; mean pretransfusion hemoglobin S concentration was 29%. Progressive cerebral infarcts occurred in 45% (18 of 40 children) while receiving chronic blood transfusion therapy; 7 had second overt strokes and 11 had new silent cerebral infarcts. Worsening cerebral vasculopathy was associated with new cerebral infarction (overt or silent; relative risk = 12.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.65-60.5, P = .001). Children with SCD and overt strokes receiving regular blood transfusion therapy experience silent cerebral infarcts at a higher rate than previously recognized. Additional therapies are needed for secondary stroke prevention in children with SCD.


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