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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Stroke
Sec. Stroke in the Young
Volume 3 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fstro.2024.1384767
This article is part of the Research Topic Prevention of Stroke and Vascular Cognitive Decline in the Pediatric Population View all 4 articles

Transcranial Doppler in 150 Congolese Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Provisionally accepted
Gisele T. Kazadi Gisele T. Kazadi 1Didier M. Mbuyi Didier M. Mbuyi 2Robert Kitenge Robert Kitenge 3Smith Mpaka Smith Mpaka 4Jean Lambert E. Gini Jean Lambert E. Gini 5René Ngiyulu René Ngiyulu 6Léon M. Tshilolo Léon M. Tshilolo 7*
  • 1 Deparment of Pediatrics, Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 2 Department of Sciences and Technology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 3 Isntitut de Recherche Biomédicale/CEFA, Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 4 Institut Supérieur de Statistiques de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 5 Department of Pediatrics, Hematology Unit, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 6 Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Haematology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 7 Institut de Recherche Biomédicale/ CEFA, Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) ranks among the most prevalent genetic disorders globally. The incidence in sub-Saharan African countries has been estimated to be 230.000/y with a high prevalence (1%) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Stroke is a significant complication of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and carries a high risk of disability and mortality. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is currently the non-invasive exploration recommended for the prevention of stroke in young SCD patients. Objective: To determine the prevalence of pathological TCD in a population of young Congolese SCA patients and to assess its association with hematological parameters. Population and Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 150 Congolese SS homozygous children between the ages 2-16 years old (mean age: 8.5±4.0 years) in stable condition, and followed from January 1 to December 31, 2013. TCD was performed using the STOP I method in the main cerebral arteries. The risk of stroke was absent when the average maximum speed during a cycle (TAMMV) in middle cerebral artery (MCA) was < 170cm/sec, but present when TAMMV was borderline or conditional for values between 170-199 cm/sec and pathological for values ≥ 200 cm /sec. Results: The prevalence of pathological TCD was 4% while the conditional TCD prevalence was 10%. The Mean blood velocity in MCA was 114.0 cm/sec. There was a significant difference in the means of WBC (p = 0.003), Hb (p < 0.001), Hct (p < 0.001), MCV (p = 0.005) parameters when comparing normal and at risk TCD (conditional and abnormal). However, no significant association was found for the categorical corresponding parameters Conclusion: Globally, 14% of patients were at risk of stroke, hence the interest in integrating TCD in the routine monitoring of children with SCD in order to prevent overt stroke by implementing a chronic blood transfusion program or the use of hydroxycarbamide. Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Democratic Republic of Congo, Abnormal Transcranial Doppler, Hydroxyurea, Fetal haemoglobin, Stroke.

    Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Democratic Republic of Congo, Abnormal Transcranial Doppler, Hydroxyurea, fetal haemoglobin, Stroke

    Received: 10 Feb 2024; Accepted: 02 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Kazadi, Mbuyi, Kitenge, Mpaka, Gini, Ngiyulu and Tshilolo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Léon M. Tshilolo, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale/ CEFA, Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

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