Left ventricular hypertrophy in children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell anemia

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to estimate the frequency of left ventricular hypertrophy and to identify variables associated with this condition in under 25-year-old patients with sickle cell anemia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed of children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell anemia submitted to a transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. The mass of the left ventricle was determined by the formula of Devereux et al. with correction for height, and the percentile curves of gender and age were applied. Individuals with rheumatic and congenital heart disease were excluded. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy and compared according to clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory variables.ResultsA total of 37.6% of the patients had left ventricular hypertrophy in this sample. There was no difference between the groups of patients with and without hypertrophy according to pathological history or clinical characteristics, except possibly for the use of hydroxyurea, more often used in the group without left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy presented larger left atria and lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, reticulocyte index and a higher albumin:creatinine ratio in urine.ConclusionLeft ventricular hypertrophy was observed in more than one-third of the young patients with sickle cell anemia with this finding being inversely correlated to the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and reticulocyte index and directly associated to a higher albumin/creatinine ratio. It is possible that hydroxyurea had had a protective effect on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Plasma metanephrins are associated with myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac diastolic function in patients with essential hypertension

“…Principally, left ventricular hypertrophy is diagnosed by left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) via echocardiography [14]. Two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography was performed in all subjects.…”

Evaluation of cardiac function tests in Sudanese adult patients with sickle cell trait

“…Young SCA patients have left ventricular hypertrophy, so they need cardiac assessment. 10 Cardiac remodeling is one feature of SCA but for SCT it falls under some suspicions.…”

Comment on sickle cell disease and left ventricular hypertrophy

“…In the current issue of the Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, there is an article entitled “Left ventricular hypertrophy in children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell anemia” by Faro et al In this article the authors aimed to estimate the frequency of LVH in children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell anemia. 6 …”

“…Hemolysis markers (lactate dehydrogenase, indirect bilirubin and ferritin) were statistically similar with high values in both groups. 6 …”

“…This paper demonstrates that the population of patients with SCD presented cardiac complications at an earlier age and that the association of clinical signs and symptoms may guide us. 6 …”