Reversible posterior leuko-encephalopathy in children with sickle cell disease

Abstract

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have high risk of neurologic morbidity and mortality, such as strokes, silent infarcts and TIA's. A retrospective review of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography identified eight children with radiological and clinical characteristics of reversible posterior encephalopathy (RPLS). These patients had no evidence of previous cerebral infarcts or vasculopathy. Three have died during the 5-year follow up; one developed a stroke and one a conditional TCD. RPLS needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with SCD that present with acute neurological changes, especially if they are already been hospitalized.