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Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
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Published on: March 14, 2017

The prevention and management of stroke in sickle cell anaemia

N Qureshi1, B Lubin, M C Walters

  • 1Oakland and Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, CA, USA.

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
|October 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Stroke is a major complication of sickle cell anaemia in children. Regular red blood cell transfusions are standard for preventing and treating stroke, with hematopoietic cell transplantation as a potential cure.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Stroke is a significant clinical complication of sickle cell anaemia, affecting 5-10% of affected children.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) damage necessitates interventions to prevent recurrent or progressive neurological deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review standard and novel red blood cell (RBC) transfusion techniques for stroke prevention and treatment in children with sickle cell anaemia.
  • To discuss alternative therapies and hematopoietic cell transplantation as a curative option for sickle cell anaemia-related stroke.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of standard and novel RBC transfusion techniques.
  • Analysis of alternative therapies and hematopoietic cell transplantation for sickle cell anaemia stroke.
  • Consideration of transcranial Doppler screening for high-risk children.

Main Results:

  • Regular RBC transfusions are the standard of care for preventing recurrent or progressive CNS damage in children with sickle cell anaemia.
  • Transcranial Doppler screening identifies children at high risk for stroke who benefit from prophylactic RBC transfusions.
  • Hematopoietic cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for sickle cell anaemia.

Conclusions:

  • RBC transfusions are crucial for managing stroke risk in pediatric sickle cell anaemia.
  • Alternative therapies and hematopoietic cell transplantation warrant further investigation for comprehensive stroke management.
  • Future applications of hematopoietic cell transplantation in this clinical setting require continued evaluation.

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