Sickle Cell Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sickle Cell Anemia, including details on genetics, causes, symptoms.

Right ventricular abnormalities in sickle cell anemia: evidence of a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance.

Qureshi N, Joyce JJ, Qi N, Chang RK

Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Torrance and Los Angeles, CA, USA. nqureshi@mail.cho.org

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of sickle cell anemia (SCA) on the right ventricle (RV). STUDY DESIGN: Echocardiograms of 32 children with SCA were compared with age-matched healthy controls. RV measurements included diastolic area index, fractional area change, free-wall mass index, ejection time corrected for heart rate (ET(c)), and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) gradient. RESULTS: SCA subjects had elevated RV ETc (mean +/- standard deviation, 0.369 +/- 0.030 sec vs 0.351 +/- 0.022 sec; P < .01), diastolic area index (19.9 +/- 2.4 cm(2)/m(2) vs 13.2 +/- 2.1 cm(2)/m(2); P < .01) and free-wall mass index (33.2 +/- 4.4 g/m(2) vs 23.9 +/- 4.3 g/m(2); P < .01), whereas RV fractional area change (37 +/- 8% vs 36 +/- 4%) was not different from controls. Although RV diastolic area index in SCA paralleled the normal range over time, RV free-wall mass index continued to gradually rise throughout childhood (r = .42; P < .05). TR gradients > 2.5 m/sec, consistent with pulmonary hypertension, were found in 5 (16%) of SCA subjects, all older than 9 years. CONCLUSIONS: RV preload and systolic function do not worsen during childhood in SCA; however, RV mass index and the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension increase consistent with rising pulmonary vascular resistance.

Published 24 July 2006 in J Pediatr, 149(1): 23-7.
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