Acute silent cerebral ischemic events in children with sickle cell anemia

Charles T. Quinn, C. McKinstry Robert, Michael M. Dowling, William S. Ball, Michael A. Kraut, James F. Casella, Nomazulu Dlamini, Rebecca N. Ichord, Lori C. Jordan, Fenella J. Kirkham, Michael J. Noetzel, E. Steve Roach, John J. Strouse, Janet L. Kwiatkowski, Deborah Hirtz, Michael R. DeBaun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Irregular, sporadic episodes of ischemic brain injury are known to occur in sickle cell anemia (SCA), resulting in overt stroke and silent cerebral infarction. Ongoing ischemia in other organs is common in SCA but has never been documented in the brain. Objective: To test the hypothesis that acute silent cerebral ischemic events (ASCIEs) are frequent and potentially transient. Design: Cross-sectional and cohort study of children with SCA screened by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain for a randomized clinical trial. Setting: Clinical trial setting in tertiary care centers. Patients: Asymptomatic children with SCA without known stroke, neurologic injury, or epilepsy not receiving treatment with transfusions or hydroxyurea. Main Outcome Measure: Incidence of ASCIEs calculated using single diffusion-weighted MRI scans (acute ischemic events that occurred within 10 days of the MRI). Results: Acute silent cerebral ischemic events were detected on 1.3% of MRIs (10 of 771) in 652 children (mean age, 10.0 years), with an incidence of 47.3 events per 100 patient-years (95% CI, 22.7-87.2). Two of 10 children with ASCIEs had follow-up MRIs of the brain; only 1 had silent cerebral infarction in the same location as the previously detected ASCIE. Conclusions: Children with SCA experience ongoing (chronic, intermittent) cerebral ischemia, sometimes reversible, far more frequently than previously recognized. The brain in SCA is at constant threat of ischemia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)58-65
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of neurology
Volume70
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Neurology

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