The value of Transcranial Doppler sonography in children with sickle cell disease compared to non-transfusion depenendent thalassemias: Cohort Randomized study

Abstract

Abstract Background Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography is the only method provides a relatively inexpensive, noninvasive real-time measurement of blood flow characteristics and cerebrovascular hemodynamics within the basal arteries of the brain, adding physiologic information to the anatomic images. It seems ideally suited to screening for large-vessel disease, because it is safe, noninvasive, relatively low in cost, and well tolerated by children. Objective Is to measure the blood velocity in cerebral vessels by Transcranial Doppler in patients with sickle cell anaemia according to transfusion status and in patients with non transfusion dependent thalassemia. Patients and Methods Cohort study of sixty patients on children following up paediatric haematology clinic at children hospital, Ain shams university from March 2018 till September 2018. Results according to the STOP trial the Doppler velocity of the right MCA among the 60 patients are 55 patients were normal (91%), 1 patient was very low (1.7%),1 patient was conditional (1.7%) and 3 patients were abnormal ( 5.0%) and 5 patients are at risk (8.3%),and the Doppler velocity of the left MCA among the 60 patients are 54 patients were normal (90.0%), 2 patients were very low (3.3%), 3patients were conditional (5.0%) and 1 patient was abnormal (1.7%). Conclusion TCD is the recommended method of assessing stroke risk in SCD patients and NTDT, it is particularly useful in children because it is painless, noninvasive, available relatively inexpensive, easy to perform, and requires no sedation or contrast media or radiation exposure.