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Published on: March 14, 2017
Stroke recurrence in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease treated with hydroxyurea
I A Lagunju1, B J Brown, O O Sodeinde
1Department of Paediatrics College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Insights
Hydroxyurea (HU) significantly reduces secondary stroke risk in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease (SCD). HU therapy is recommended for stroke prevention when chronic transfusions are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Hematology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a significant cause of stroke in children.
- Stroke management in SCD often involves chronic blood transfusions, which may not be feasible in all settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare stroke outcomes in Nigerian children with SCD treated with and without hydroxyurea (HU).
- To evaluate hydroxyurea's efficacy in secondary stroke prevention in pediatric SCD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort review of Nigerian children with SCD experiencing their first clinical stroke.
- Comparison of outcomes between children who received HU and those who did not.
Main Results:
- Hydroxyurea significantly lowered the secondary stroke incidence (7/100 person-years) compared to no HU (28/100 person-years) (P=0.001).
- Children not receiving HU had higher rates of school dropout and moderate-to-severe motor disabilities.
Conclusions:
- Hydroxyurea is an effective option for secondary stroke prevention in children with SCD.
- HU therapy should be considered in resource-limited settings where chronic blood transfusions are not feasible.
Aims And Objectives:
To compare the outcome after a first clinical stroke, following treatment with and without hydroxyurea (HU).
Subjects And Methods:
A retrospective review of a cohort of Nigerian children with SCD, who had suffered a first stroke, was carried out. Outcomes in the group of children who received and did not receive HU were compared.
Results:
Thirty two children presented with stroke and one died of haemorrhagic stroke at presentation. All the children had haemoglobin SS phenotype, and ischaemic stroke was the predominant form seen. Mean age at first clinical stroke was 7 years, 7 months (SD=2 years, 4 months). Thirteen children received HU while 18 declined HU therapy. Maximum dose of HU ranged from 20-25 mg/kg/ day. The secondary stroke incidence of 7/100 person years in the HU group was significantly lower than the 28/100 person years in the non-HU group (P=0.001, OR 3.808, 95% CI 1.556, 9.317). Children who did not receive HU were more likely to drop out of school and to have moderate-severe motor disabilities requiring caregiver assistance for daily living.
Conclusion:
In settings where facilities for chronic blood transfusion are not accessible or feasible, HU therapy should be considered for secondary stroke prevention in children with SCD.
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