Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2012 Feb;160(2):281-285.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.07.050. Epub 2011 Sep 9.

Effects of chronic transfusions on abdominal sonographic abnormalities in children with sickle cell anemia

Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Effects of chronic transfusions on abdominal sonographic abnormalities in children with sickle cell anemia

Mary Beth McCarville et al. J Pediatr. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of chronic erythrocyte transfusions on prevalence of sonographic incidence of organ damage in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA).

Study design: Children (N=148; mean age, 13.0 years) with SCA, receiving chronic transfusions (average, 7 years), underwent abdominal sonography at 25 institutions. After central imaging review, spleen, liver, and kidney measurements were compared with published normal values. Potential relations between ultrasound, clinical, and laboratory data were explored via analysis of variance, Student t test, and Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel tests of non-zero correlation.

Results: Average spleen length was similar to normal children, but over one-third had spleen volumes >300 mL, 15 had previous splenectomy for splenomegaly, and 24 had abnormal splenic echotexture. Two-thirds had hepatobiliary disease; 37 had prior cholecystectomy, 46 had gallstones, and 16 had gallbladder sludge. Gallbladder disease correlated with older age (P=.002), longer liver length (P<.001), longer duration of transfusions (P=.034), and higher total bilirubin (P<.001). Liver (P<.001) and renal lengths (P≤.005) were larger than published norms.

Conclusions: In children with SCA, long-term transfusion therapy may not prevent development or progression of abdominal organ dysfunction.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Mirre E, Brousse V, Berteloot L, Lambot-Juhan K, Verlhac S, Boulat C, et al. Feasibility and efficacy of chronic transfusion for stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease. Eur J Haematol. 2010;84:259–65. - PubMed
    1. Ohene-Frempong K, Weiner SJ, Sleeper LA, Miller ST, Embury S, Moohr JW, et al. Cerebrovascular accidents in sickle cell disease: rates and risk factors. Blood. 1998;91:288–94. - PubMed
    1. Ware RE, Schultz WH, Yovetich N, et al. Stroke With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (SWiTCH): A Phase 3 randomized clinical trial for treatment of children with sickle cell anemia, stroke, and iron overload. Pediatr Blood & Cancer. In press. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dittrich M, Milde S, Dinkel E, Baumann W, Weitzel D. Sonographic biometry of liver and spleen size in childhood. Pediatr Radiol. 1983;13:206–11. - PubMed
    1. Dinkel E, Ertel M, Dittrich M, Peters H, Berres M, Schulte-Wissermann H. Kidney size in childhood. Sonographical growth charts for kidney length and volume. Pediatr Radiol. 1985;15:38–43. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms