Related Experiment Videos
Sickle cell trait and stroke in children
M D Partington1, K E Aronyk, S E Byrd
1Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill. 60614.
Insights
Stroke is rare in sickle cell trait, but a 12-year-old experienced a posterior circulation infarct. A normal variant vertebral artery may have contributed to this rare pediatric stroke event.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Hematology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebrovascular complications are common in sickle cell anemia, frequently causing stroke in children.
- Stroke associated with sickle cell trait is rare, with limited documented cases in pediatric patients.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old male with sickle cell trait presented with a posterior circulation infarct.
- The patient also exhibited a normal variant of the vertebral artery, a potential contributing factor.
Findings:
- This case highlights a rare instance of stroke in a pediatric patient with sickle cell trait.
- The presence of a normal variant vertebral artery is discussed as a possible risk factor.
Implications:
- Further research is needed to understand the specific risk factors for stroke in individuals with sickle cell trait.
- This case underscores the importance of considering cerebrovascular events even in seemingly low-risk conditions like sickle cell trait.
Abstract:
Cerebrovascular complications of sickle cell anemia are well known to be one of the more common causes of stroke in the pediatric age group. Although it is far less common, the association of stroke with sickle cell trait has been described in young adults and only twice in children in the English literature. In this report, we describe a case of a posterior circulation infarct occurring in a 12-year-old male who also had a normal variant vertebral artery, which may have been a contributing factor in his presentation. The literature is reviewed and other possible risk factors for stroke in sickle cell trait are discussed.