[Stuttering priapism in children with sickle cell anemia in Togo].

AIM: To describe clinical aspects and outcome of stuttering priapism (SP) in children with sickle cell anemia.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We included the 8 children with sickle cell anemia suffering from SP between 1996 and 2004.

RESULTS

Age at onset of SP ranged from 5 to 14 years (mean 9.75+/-3.69 years). SP attacks occurred once a day for 6 patients, and 2 and 3 times by week for the others. It happened during deep sleep, especially in the night (all patients) and sometimes in the day (4 patients). The duration of attacks ranged from 10 min to 2 h in 6 patients and 4 to 5 h in 2 patients. Oral étilefrine was administered to all patients until the cessation of attacks, and continued during 1 month. A long remission was obtained in all patients after 7 days to 7 months treatment (follow-up 2 to 7 years) in spite of 1 or many relapses.