Cardiovascular Manifestations Of Sickle Cell Anaemia In Patients Of 13 Years And Above At The Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

55 Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients were studied with a view to determining their cardiovacular status. Their ages were ranging between 13-27 years with a medium of 18.9 years. They comprised 27 males and 28 females. The main haemoglobin concentration was 8.5 ± 1.4g/dL. Haemoglobin level of 8-9g/dL seen in 30 patients was noted to confer the lowest incidences of exertional dyspnoea (40%) and palpitation (50%). This group also had lowest mean heart rate. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures, Ejection fraction (EF) and differential fibre shortening (%D) were found to be directly related to haemoglobin concentration, whereas cardiothoractc index (CTI) and left ventricular dimensions had an inverse relationships to haemoglobi n concentration. The left venticular dimensions (LVD), Ejection fraction end differential fibre shortening were found to be normal in 80.9% of the patients indicating that the majority of patients with sickle cell anaemia at Kenyatta National Hospital have good cardiac functions.