Cerebral Infarcts and Cerebrovascular Disease in Neurologically Intact Tanzanian Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Conclusions:The prevalence of SCI on MRI is high in children with SCA without neurological history living in Africa even when TCD CBFV is normal. Children and adolescents with all grades of vasculopathy on MRA are at higher risk of brain parenchymal injury. The lack of association between SCI and hemoglobin may be related to the relatively severe anemia in our African study. As MRA contrast depends on velocity of blood flowing in vessels, it is not surprising that Grade 1 turbulence on MRA appears to reflect high CBFV on TCD. Importantly, high TCD velocity and Grade 1 turbulence may reflect the potentially reversible early stages in the development of SCA vasculopathy when cerebral blood flow is high before stenosis and occlusion supervene. TCD is operator dependent and there may be a case for MRI and MRA screening if follow-up shows that these measures predict stroke.DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Source: Blood - November 21, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Mwakatika, M. M., Saunders, D. E., Makani, J., Kirkham, F. J. Tags: 114. Hemoglobinopathies, Excluding Thalassemia-Clinical: Poster I Source Type: research