Fusobacterium nucleatum Multiple Liver Abscesses in an Adolescent With Hemoglobin SC Disease.

Liver abscesses are poorly known in sickle cell disease. We report here multiple liver abscesses occurring in a 17-year-old patient with hemoglobin SC disease. A Fusobacterium nucleatum was identified on cyst puncture. Such complications have been described in only 11 children and young adults with hemoglobin SS/Sß-thalassemia diseases. Fusobacterium species are the most frequent pathogens reported and require anaerobic culture to be identified.

Clinical and hematological profile in a newborn cohort with hemoglobin SC / Perfil clínico e hematológico em uma coorte neonatal com hemoglobina SC

Abstract Objectives: Hemoglobin SC is the second most common variant of sickle-cell disease worldwide, after hemoglobin SS. The objectives of the study were to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of hemoglobin SC disease in children from a newborn screening program and treated at a blood center. Methodology: This study assessed a cohort of 461 infants born between 01/01/1999 and 12/31/2012 and followed-up until 12/31/2014. Clinical events were expressed as rates for 100 patient-years, with 95% confidence intervals. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created. Results: The median age of patients was 9.2 years; 47.5% were female. Mean values of blood tests were: hemoglobin, 10.5 g/dL; reticulocytes, 3.4%; white blood cells, 11.24 × 109/L; platelets, 337.1 × 109/L; and fetal hemoglobin, 6.3%. Clinical events: acute splenic sequestration in 14.8%, blood transfusion 23.4%, overt stroke in 0.2%. The incidence of painful vaso-occlusive episodes was 51 (48.9-53.4) per 100 patient-years and that of infections, 62.2 episodes (59.8-64.8) per 100 patient-years. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (n = 71) was normal given the current reference values for SS patients. Hydroxyurea was given to ten children, all of whom improvement of painful crises. Retinopathy was observed in 20.3% of 59 children who underwent ophthalmoscopy. Avascular necrosis was detected in seven of 12 patients evaluated, predominantly in the left femur. Echocardiogram compatible with pulmonary hypertension was recorded in 4.6% of 130 children, with an estimated average systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 33.5 mmHg. The mortality rate from all causes was 4.3%. Conclusions: Clinical severity is variable in SC hemoglobinopathy. Several children have severe manifestations similar to those with SS disease.

Resumo Objetivos: A hemoglobinopatia SC é a segunda variante mais comum da doença falciforme no mundo, após a hemoglobinopatia SS. Os objetivos do estudo foram descrever as características clínicas e laboratoriais da hemoglobinopatia SC em recém-nascidos diagnosticados por programa de triagem neonatal e encaminhados para acompanhamento em hemocentro. Metodologia: Coorte de 461 recém-nascidos SC nascidos entre 01/01/1999 e 31/12/2012 e seguidos até 31/12/2014. A incidência de eventos clínicos foi expressa por taxas relativas a 100 pacientes-ano, com limites de confiança a 95%. Curvas de sobrevida foram construídas segundo Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: Mediana de idade, 9,2 anos; 47,5%, feminino. Médias dos valores hematológicos: hemoglobina 10,5 g/dL; reticulócitos 3,4%; leucometria 11,24 x 109/L; plaquetometria 337,1x109/L; hemoglobina fetal 6,3%. Eventos clínicos: sequestro esplênico agudo em 14,8%, hemotransfusão 23,4%, AVC isquêmico 0,2%. A incidência de episódios vaso-oclusivos dolorosos foi de 51 (48,9-53,4) por 100 pacientes-ano; a de infecções, 62,2 episódios (59,8-64,8) por 100 pacientes-ano. Doppler transcraniano (n = 71) foi normal, se usados os valores de referência de crianças SS. Dez pacientes usaram hidroxiureia, todos com melhoria das crises dolorosas. Retinopatia foi observada em 20,3% das 59 crianças que fizeram fundoscopia. Necrose avascular foi detectada em 7 de 12 pacientes avaliados, com predomínio no fêmur esquerdo. Ecocardiograma compatível com hipertensão pulmonar foi registrado em 4,6% de 130 crianças, com média estimada de 33,5 mm Hg de pressão arterial pulmonar. A taxa de mortalidade por todas as causas foi de 4,3%. Conclusões: A hemoglobinopatia SC tem gravidade variável; várias crianças apresentam manifestações clínicas intensas, semelhantes às da hemoglobinopatia SS.

Clinical and hematological profile in a newborn cohort with hemoglobin SC.

OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobin SC is the second most common variant of sickle-cell disease worldwide, after hemoglobin SS. The objectives of the study were to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of hemoglobin SC disease in children from a newborn screening program and treated at a blood center. METHODOLOGY: This study assessed a cohort of 461 infants born between 01/01/1999 and 12/31/2012 and followed-up until 12/31/2014. Clinical events were expressed as rates for 100 patient-years, with 95% confidence intervals. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 9.2 years; 47.5% were female. Mean values of blood tests were: hemoglobin, 10.5g/dL; reticulocytes, 3.4%; white blood cells, 11.24×109/L; platelets, 337.1×109/L; and fetal hemoglobin, 6.3%. Clinical events: acute splenic sequestration in 14.8%, blood transfusion 23.4%, overt stroke in 0.2%. The incidence of painful vaso-occlusive episodes was 51 (48.9-53.4) per 100 patient-years and that of infections, 62.2 episodes (59.8-64.8) per 100 patient-years. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (n=71) was normal given the current reference values for SS patients. Hydroxyurea was given to ten children, all of whom improvement of painful crises. Retinopathy was observed in 20.3% of 59 children who underwent ophthalmoscopy. Avascular necrosis was detected in seven of 12 patients evaluated, predominantly in the left femur. Echocardiogram compatible with pulmonary hypertension was recorded in 4.6% of 130 children, with an estimated average systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 33.5mmHg. The mortality rate from all causes was 4.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical severity is variable in SC hemoglobinopathy. Several children have severe manifestations similar to those with SS disease.

Bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism syndrome: a dreadful complication of hemoglobin sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease encompasses a wide range of genotypic presentation with particular clinical features. The entity affects millions of people, particularly those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa and other countries in the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, and India. Currently, the high frequency of S and C genes reflects natural selection through the protection of heterozygotes against severe malaria, the high frequency of consanguineous marriages, improvement of some public health policies and the nutritional standards in the poorer countries where newborns are now living long enough to present for diagnosis and management. Although there is a high burden of the disease, in many countries, the new-born sickle cell screening test is being performed and is rendering an early diagnosis; however, it is still difficult for sickle cell patients to find proper treatment and adequate follow-up. Moreover, in many countries, patients are neither aware of their diagnosis nor the care they should receive to prevent complications; also, they do not receive adequate genetic counseling. Hemoglobin SC (HbSC) disease is the most frequent double sickle cell heterozygosis found in Brazil. The clinical course tends to be more benign with fewer hospitalizations compared with double homozygotic SS patients. However, HbSC patients may present severe complications with a fatal outcome. We report the case of a 36-year-old man who presented to the emergency care facility with symptoms consistent with the diagnosis of sickling crisis. The outcome was unfavorable and death occurred just hours after admission. The autopsy revealed a generalized vaso-occlusive crisis by sickled red cells, bone marrow necrosis, and fat embolism syndrome.

Differences of microparticle patterns between sickle cell anemia and hemoglobin SC patients.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) and hemoglobin SC (HbSC) disease are the two most common forms of sickle cell disease (SCD), a frequent hemoglobinopathy which exhibits a highly variable clinical course. Although high levels of microparticles (MPs) have been consistently reported in SCA and evidence of their harmful impact on the SCA complication occurrences have been provided, no data on MP pattern in HbSC patients has been reported so far. In this study, we determined and compared the MP patterns of 84 HbSC and 96 SCA children, all at steady-state, using flow cytometry. Most of circulating MPs were derived from platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs) in the two SCD syndromes. Moreover, we showed that HbSC patients exhibited lower blood concentration of total MPs compared to SCA patients, resulting mainly from a decrease of MP levels originated from RBCs and to a lesser extent from PLTs. We did not detect any association between blood MP concentrations and the occurrence of painful vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome and pulmonary hypertension in both patient groups. We also demonstrated for the first time, that whatever the considered genotype, RBC-derived MPs exhibited higher externalized phosphatidylserine level and were larger than PLT-derived MPs.

Velocidade de fluxo sanguíneo cerebral em crianças em crianças e adolescentes com doença falciforme em Salvador, Bahia / Cerebral blood flow velocity in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease in Salvador, Bahia

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença falciforme (DF) é caracterizada por complicações agudas e crônicas. Entre as agudas podemos citar: episódios álgicos, síndrome torácica aguda (STA), priapismo, crise hemolítica, infecções agudas e acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), sendo este útimo responsavel por complicações a longo prazo na infância. A velocidade do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral (VFSC) elevada é o fator de risco mais importante para o desenvolvimento do AVC em crianças com anemia falciforme. A identificação de pacientes de risco associados a velocidades de fluxo sanguíneos cerebrais anormais é realizada pelo Doppler transcraniano (DTC), exame fundamental à prevenção primária do AVC. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as velocidades de fluxo sanguíneo cerebral em crianças e adolescentes com DF em Salvador-Bahia, para identificar aqueles com risco alto de AVC, além de correlacionar as velocidades de fluxo cerebral com os perfis clínico e hematológico dos pacientes. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: O DTC por insonação, utilizando uma sonda de 2 MHZ...

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by acute episodes of illnesses (crises) such as bone pain crisis, acute chest syndrome (ACS), priapism, hemolytic crisis, acute infections; and acute and long term complications such as cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Abnormally high cerebral blood flow velocity is the most important risk factor for development of stroke in pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia, and its detection by transcranial Doppler (TCD) is fundamental in primary stroke prevention. Other clinical, hematologic and genetic risk factors of stroke have also been identified. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at evaluating the cerebral blood flow velocities of children and adolescents with SCD in Salvador, Brazil, detect those at high risk of stroke and correlate the flow velocities with clinical and hematological profiles of the patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Transcranial Doppler was performed on subjects aged 2 to 16 years who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, using a 2 MHz...

Optical characterization of red blood cells from individuals with sickle cell trait and disease in Tanzania using quantitative phase imaging.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is common across Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the investigation of SCD in this area has been significantly limited mainly due to the lack of research facilities and skilled personnel. Here, we present optical measurements of individual red blood cells from healthy individuals and individuals with SCD and sickle cell trait in Tanzania using the quantitative phase imaging technique. By employing a quantitative phase imaging unit, an existing microscope in a clinic is transformed into a powerful quantitative phase microscope providing measurements on the morphological, biochemical, and biomechanical properties of individual cells. The present approach will open up new opportunities for cost-effective investigation and diagnosis of several diseases in low resource environments.

Acidente vascular cerebral na hemoglobinopatia SC(HBB glu6val e glu6lys): avaliação de marcadores de prognóstico / hemoglobinopathy (HBB glu6val and glu6lys): evaluation of prognostic markers

O acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) é uma complicação clínica grave da doença falciforme (DF). Poucos estudos avaliaram a velocidade do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral utilizando o Doppler transcraniano (DTC) e marcadores preditores do AVC na hemoglobinopatia SC (HbSC) e, desta forma, as velocidades consideradas de risco para os indivíduos com esta hemoglobinopatia são baseadas em velocidades descritas para a anemia falciforme (AF) e para a Sβ talassemia (HbS/β). Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar marcadores preditores do AVC em indivíduos com HbSC, estabelecendo subfenótipos da doença pela associação de biomarcadores genéticos, hematológicos, bioquímicos e imunológicos com o valor da velocidade do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo transversal, onde foram investigados 68 indivíduos com HbSC. A velocidade média máxima do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral nas artérias cerebral média, carótida anterior e cerebral anterior foi determinada utilizando o DTC...

Stroke is a serious clinical complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Only few studies have evaluated the rate of cerebral blood flow by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and stroke predictor markers on hemoglobinopathy SC (HbSC), thus, velocity considered as risk for stroke that is used to diagnose HbSC individuals are based on velocities described for the sickle cell anemia (SCA) and Sβ thalassemia. The objective of this study was to identify predictors markers of stroke in individuals with HbSC, establishing subphenotypes disease by the association of genetic biomarkers, hematological, biochemical and immunological with the value of the velocity of cerebral blood flow. For that, we conducted a cross-sectional study, which were investigated 68 HbSC individuals. The average maximum rate of cerebral blood flow in the middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery and anterior carotid artery was determined using the DTC...

Impaired cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes containing sickle hemoglobin.

Sickle trait, the heterozygous state of normal hemoglobin A (HbA) and sickle hemoglobin S (HbS), confers protection against malaria in Africa. AS children infected with Plasmodium falciparum are less likely than AA children to suffer the symptoms or severe manifestations of malaria, and they often carry lower parasite densities than AA children. The mechanisms by which sickle trait might confer such malaria protection remain unclear. We have compared the cytoadherence properties of parasitized AS and AA erythrocytes, because it is by these properties that parasitized erythrocytes can sequester in postcapillary microvessels of critical tissues such as the brain and cause the life-threatening complications of malaria. Our results show that the binding of parasitized AS erythrocytes to microvascular endothelial cells and blood monocytes is significantly reduced relative to the binding of parasitized AA erythrocytes. Reduced binding correlates with the altered display of P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP-1), the parasite's major cytoadherence ligand and virulence factor on the erythrocyte surface. These findings identify a mechanism of protection for HbS that has features in common with that of hemoglobin C (HbC). Coinherited hemoglobin polymorphisms and naturally acquired antibodies to PfEMP-1 may influence the degree of malaria protection in AS children by further weakening cytoadherence interactions.

[Diagnosis and surgical management of femoral head osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnosis and surgical management of femoral head osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: The related literature available today was reviewed, and the clinical advance in the diagnosis of femoral head osteonecrosis complicating SCD and its surgical management was evaluated. RESULTS: Although the advance in the diagnosis and the surgical treatment for the femoral head osteonecrosis in SCD had been achieved, challenging clinical problems still remained because of many complications after the surgical treatment. Whether the surgical management was reasonable in a particular stage of the disease and for a specific patient still required investigation. CONCLUSION: Whether the salvage of the patient's hip joint should be performed or the artificial joint replacement should be performed still needs a cautious consideration before either of the surgical managements is given.

Limb amputation in hemoglobin SC disease after application of ice and elevation.

A 31-year-old man with hemoglobin SC disease was admitted with acute chest syndrome, treated with antibiotics and ventilator support. His restrained right wrist and hand became swollen and cool, thought due to infiltration of an intravenous line. The hand was elevated, ice packs applied around the clock, and prophylactic low molecular weight heparin given. The arm quickly turned gangrenous. In spite of attempted thrombectomy and red blood cell exchange transfusion, amputation was required. Cold, elevation, and measures that reduce blood flow are known precipitators of sickling and crises. Vasoocclusion of the extremities to the point of gangrene is rarely reported in sickle cell disorders, and this case highlights the dangers of measures limiting blood flow in such patients.

High levels of neopterin and interleukin-3 in sickle cell disease patients.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition. Cytokines are released in response to stress or pathological situations, and influence hematopoiesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate interleukin-3 (IL-3), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and neopterin (NP) levels in steady-state patients with sickle cell anemia (SS) (n = 35) and SC hemoglobinopathy (n = 15) in order to verify the possible action of those cytokines and NP on iron metabolism and hematopoiesis. Serum IL-3 concentration was higher in SS and SC groups than in controls, whereas IFN-gamma levels did not differ among groups. SS patients presenting hemoglobin fetal (HbF) >or=8.5% had significantly higher IL-3 levels than those with HbF <8.5% (P = 0.0338). No correlation was observed among inflammatory and iron metabolism parameters. Significant correlations were observed between IL-3 and Hb levels (r = 0.4633, P = 0.0457), and IL-3 and HbF levels (r = 0.6011, P = 0.0065). A negative correlation was observed between IL-3 and reticulocyte counting (r = -0.4632, P = 0.0457) only in the SS group. NP levels were significantly higher in the SS and SC groups than in controls, but did not differ between SS and SC. No correlation was observed between NP and iron metabolism parameters. These data suggest that IL-3 stimulates hematopoiesis, and that SS patients, even in steady state, have macrophage/monocyte activation (represented by high levels of NP) that probably contributes to their chronic inflammatory condition.

Acute splenic sequestration crisis in adults with hemoglobin S-C disease: a report of nine cases.

Acute splenic sequestration crisis (ASSC) is a potentially life-threatening complication and one of the leading causes of death in children with sickle cell disease. It is rarely reported in adults with hemoglobin S-C disease and its natural history in these patients has not been well studied. We describe here the clinicopathological features of ASSC in nine adults with hemoglobin S-C disease treated between 1972 and 2000 and followed for a mean period of 9 years (range 0-21 years). ASSC was characterized by acute left upper quadrant abdominal pain, splenomegaly, fever, and a rapid decrease in hematocrit with active erythropoiesis. The hemoglobin decreased by a mean of 4.8 g/dl from the steady state value (range 3.0 to 6.7 g/dl) during ASSC. Two patients failed to respond to transfusion of packed erythrocytes and required urgent splenectomy. There was one fatality-a 76-year-old woman, who died 36 h after admission. There was no recurrence of ASSC in five patients followed for 2, 3, 16, 18, and 21 years, respectively. ASSC in adults is a serious and occasionally, fatal complication of hemoglobin S-C disease. Patients with hemoglobin S-C disease may remain at risk of ASSC into their eighth decade.