Associated risk factors for silent cerebral infarcts in sickle cell anemia: Low baseline hemoglobin, sex, and relative high systolic blood pressure

Michael R. DeBaun, Sharada A. Sarnaik, Mark J. Rodeghier, Caterina P. Minniti, Thomas H. Howard, Rathi V. Iyer, Baba Inusa, Paul T. Telfer, Melanie Kirby-Allen, Charles T. Quinn, Françoise Bernaudin, Gladstone Airewele, Gerald M. Woods, Julie Ann Panepinto, Beng Fuh, Janet K. Kwiatkowski, Allison A. King, Melissa M. Rhodes, Alexis A. Thompson, Mark E. HeinyRupa C. Redding-Lallinger, Fenella J. Kirkham, Hernan Sabio, Corina E. Gonzalez, Suzanne L. Saccente, Karen A. Kalinyak, John J. Strouse, Jason M. Fixler, Mae O. Gordon, J. Phillip Miller, Michael J. Noetzel, Rebecca N. Ichord, James F. Casella

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

163 Scopus citations

Abstract

The most common form of neurologic injury in sickle cell anemia (SCA) is silent cerebral infarction (SCI). In the Silent Cerebral Infarct Multi-Center Clinical Trial, we sought to identify risk factors associated with SCI. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the clinical history and baseline laboratory values and performed magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in participants with SCA (HbSS or HbS|5 thalassemia) between the ages of 5 and 15 years with no history of overt stroke or seizures. Neuroradiology and neurology committees adjudicated the presence of SCI. SCIs were diagnosed in 30.8% (251 of 814) participants who completed all evaluations and had valid data on all prespecified demographic and clinical covariates. The mean age of the participants was 9.1 years, with 413 males (50.7%). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, lower baseline hemoglobin concentration (P< .001), higher baseline systolic blood pressure (P = .018), and male sex (P = .030) were statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of an SCI. Hemoglobin concentration and systolic blood pressure are risk factors for SCI in children with SCA and may be therapeutic targets for decreasing the risk of SCI. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00072761.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3684-3690
Number of pages7
JournalBlood
Volume119
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 19 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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