Background: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is the key test in determining the need for prophylactic blood transfusion to prevent stroke in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The role of TCD in assessing stroke risk in adults with SCD as well as the pattern of TCD velocities in these patients are still undetermined.
Methods: The authors compared TCD velocities in SCD adults (n=56) with those of healthy controls (n=56).
Results: Velocities in SCD adults were lower than those found in children and higher than in controls and negatively correlated to hematocrit in both groups.
Conclusion: The pattern of TCD velocities in adults with SCD is different from that described in children. Age-specific TCD criteria may assist the detection of stroke risk in these patients.
Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.