[Cerebrovascular disease in sickle cell anemia patients].

The cerebrovascular disease is a common complication in Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). The objective of the present work was to determine the incidence of cerebrovascular disease in patients with SCA, through physical and radiological examination. Twenty one patients between 5 and 18 years were studied, homozygous SS, with or without history of neurologic manifestations, at the "Instituto Hematológico de Occidente, Maracaibo-Venezuela". A clinical history, neurological clinical examination and Cerebral Magnetic Resonance (CMR) were carried out on each patient. CMR showed findings of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) of the ischemic type, in 5 of 21 (23.8%) patients, 3 of them presented neurological alterations (2 with spastic hemiparesis and one with spastic tetraparesis); the other 2 presented silent CVD). The most affected artery was the cerebral media. We suggest to carry out a neurological evaluation (clinic and images) in patients with SCA, once a year, in order to detect early abnormalities of the central nervous system and to offer timely and adequate therapies, avoiding important sequels for the patient normal life development.