TITLE:
Factors Associated with Splenomegaly amongst Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Eposse Ekoube Charlotte, Alima Yanda Anastasia Nicole, Djike Puepi Yolande, Cheping Kouokam Line, Mandeng Ma Linwa Edgar, Françoise Ngnedjou Nwabufor Foute, Mbono Ritha, Epee Patricia, Wete Estelle, Hassanatou Iyawa, Koki Ndombo Paul Olivier
KEYWORDS:
Sickle Cell Disease, Splenomegaly, Thalassemia, Malaria, Associated Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.12 No.1,
February
14,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Sickle cell disease is the most common hemoglobinopathy in the world.
Sickle cells are quickly fixed and destroyed by the elements of the
reticuloendothelial system mainly in the spleen. It leads to a palpable
increase in the volume of the spleen called
splenomegaly. Splenomegaly is the cause of multiple complications that are
relatively frequent and potentially serious in sickle cell disease, such as
splenic sequestration seizures, spleen rupture, hypersplenism and splenic
abscesses. We aimed at determining the prevalence of splenomegaly and to study
the associated factors in patients with sickle cell disease. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from 1
January to 30 April 2019, at the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal BIYA
Foundation. Patients were grouped into two groups: patients with splenomegaly
(PS1) and patients without splenomegaly (PS0). As soon as we obtained the
informed consent of the parents, we examined the children and recorded
socio-demographic data, disease history and follow-up, documented
complications, and clinical findings; then we performed the Rapid Malaria
Diagnostic Test. The statistical analyzes were carried out using SPSS20
(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and Microsoft Excel 2010 software. Results: We examined 403 children with sickle cell disease and 142 had splenomegaly
(35%). Almost all of the study populations were
homozygous SS. The Hackett 2 stage of
splenomegaly was the most frequent (56.7%). The most common physical sign
among PS1 was the presence of abdominal scarring (50.7% vs. 19.4%). PS1 had
significantly lower levels of Hb (6.94 ± 1.67 vs 7.62 ± 1.43 p = 0.003) and
platelets (297.45 ± 146.25 vs 398.70 ± 163.73 p tomegaly,
thrombocytopenia and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conclusion: Splenomegaly is a frequent physical sign of sickle cell disease in children
and factors associated are malaria, high hemoglobin F, low hemoglobin S,
hepatomegaly, thrombocytopenia and NSAID use.