Affiliations: Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne
State University, Detroit, MI, USA | Department of Radiology, Wayne State University,
Detroit, MI, USA | Department of Neurology, Wayne State University,
Detroit, MI, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. A.H.M. Mahbubul Huq, Children's Hospital of
Michigan, Division of Neurology, 3901 Beaubien Blvd, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Tel.: +1 313 745 5906; Fax: +1 313 745 0955; E-mail: ahuq@med.wayne.edu
Abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the second commonest cause of stroke in
the pediatric population. Cerebrovascular complications in SCD may involve
large or small vessels and present as large infarctions, intracranial or
subarachnoid hemorrhage, moyamoya disease or silent infarcts. Predictors of
stroke in SCD include high blood flow velocity on transcranial Doppler, low
hemoglobin value, absence of alpha-thalassemia, high white cell count,
hypertension, silent brain infarction, and a history of chest crisis. Regular
blood transfusions are used for primary and secondary prevention of stroke in
SCD. Other management strategies include stem cell transplantation, and surgery
for moyamoya disease.
