SPLENIC REGROWTH IN SAUDI CHILDREN WITH SICKLE-CELL-ANEMIA FOLLOWING HYPERTRANSFUSION

We have investigated 14 Saudi children age 2-10 years old with homozyg ous (SS) sickle cell anaemia who developed clinical, radiological and histological evidence of splenic regrowth while receiving regular bloo d transfusions. 30 sickle cell anaemia cases, matched for age and soci al class, but without blood transfusion or splenomegaly, were also stu died. The group with spleen regrowth was commenced on hypertransfusion therapy, because of severe low haemoglobin levels and other recurrent complications such as vaso-occlusion, painful abdominal crises and jo int crises. The mean duration of hypertransfusion before the documenta tion of splenic growth was 3.7 months (range 2-9 months). The mean gro wth of the spleen compared to the controls was 4.07 cm (range 2-12 cm) . The group with developed hyper splenism had significantly larger liv er size and higher serum indirect bilirubin levels, but lower haematoc rit, blood cell counts and serum albumin:globin ratio than the control group. Large palpable livers (> 5 cm below the coastal margin) among the group which developed hypersplenism tended to be associated with d igital clubbing. There were no differences in anothropometric data bet ween the two groups. Med Sci Res 26:609-612 (C) 1998 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins.