Sleep Disordered Breathing and its Relation to Stroke and Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), a common underdiagnosed sequela of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been linked to the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises, cardiac abnormalities and central nervous system events. The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of SDB in patients with SCD and its association to SCD-related complications. After having the approval of research ethics committee center at Ain Shams University Hospitals and after obtaining an informed written or oral parental consent from all participants or their parents, this cross sectional study started as 30 patients with confirmed sickle cell disease aging 6-18 years old were subjected to the following assessments; detailed medical history taking with emphasis on transfusion history, history of disease complications, chelation therapy and hydroxyurea therapy, clinical examination with special account on neurological deficits and laboratory investigation especially hemoglobin electrophoresis analysis and Markers of hemolysis. They were also evaluated using overnight polysomnography after completing the modified STOP-Bang questionnaire. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and assessment of tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) were performed.