Frequency of Stroke among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Southern Region of Saudi Arabia: Single Center Experience

Abstract: Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD), being an autosomal recessive disorder of hemoglobin, carries a varied worldwide prevalence. It is characterized by a range of complications hemolytic crisis, vaso-occlusive crisis, splenic sequestration, acute chest syndrome and occasionally stroke. Objective: To ascertain the frequency of stroke in pediatric population with sickle cell disease (SCD). Materials and Methods: Retrospective observational study, was conducted in Pediatric Medicine Department, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from1st July 2018 to 30th June 2023. The data was collected for last five years regarding pediatric patients of sickle cell anemia and aged one to 14 years. Result: Among 322 patients of sickle cell disease, 116 were female and 206 male with mean age 6 years 2 months. Each patient had an average of 2.3 admissions during the course of the disease. The most common diagnosis was vaso-occlusive crisis for the inpatient care. The mean hemoglobin was 9.24 g/dL. Transcanial doppler identified recording of high velocity in middle cerebral artery in 2% of sickle patients. 6 patients (1.9%) were found to have stroke with mean age of 9 years 10 months, with obliteration of middle cerebral artery in 4 patients (66%). Conclusion: Among the children of southern region of Saudi Arabia, the frequency of stroke in SCD patients was 1.9%.