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Ocular manifestations of sickle cell anaemia in Arab children
1Ophthalmology Department, Ibn-Sina Hospital, Kuwait, Arabian Gulf.
Insights
Ophthalmic examinations of Arab children with sickle cell disease revealed no sickle cell retinopathy. This contrasts with findings in Black American children, suggesting genetic differences may play a role.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder.
- Sickle cell retinopathy is a known complication of SCD, particularly in individuals of African descent.
- Limited data exists on ophthalmic manifestations of SCD in Arab populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ophthalmic findings in Arab children diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
- To compare the ophthalmic outcomes in Arab children with SCD to those reported in Black American children with SCD.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed on 46 Arab children with various forms of sickle cell disease.
- Ophthalmic findings were documented, focusing on anterior and posterior segments.
- Results were compared with existing literature on Black American children with SCD.
Main Results:
- Mild and infrequent ophthalmic signs were observed in the anterior and posterior segments of the eyes.
- No cases of sickle cell retinopathy were detected in any of the examined Arab children.
- The prevalence of fetal hemoglobin was notably high among the Arab children with SCD.
Conclusions:
- Arab children with sickle cell disease exhibit a low incidence of ophthalmic complications, specifically lacking sickle cell retinopathy.
- The absence of retinopathy may be attributed to a high prevalence of fetal hemoglobin, the rarity of SCD in Arab populations, or potential genetic variations.
- Further research into the genetic factors influencing SCD manifestations in diverse ethnic groups is warranted.
Abstract:
A complete ophthalmic examination was carried out of 46 Arab children with various forms of sickle cell disease. Mild and infrequent signs in anterior and posterior segments were found, but no cases of sickle cell retinopathy of any kind were detected. These results were compared with the reported findings in black American children of African origin with the same disease. The probable explanations were the high prevalence of fetal haemoglobin in Arab sicklers, the rarity of sickle cell disease among the Arabs and the possible existence of a different gene.