ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is the most common monogenic hereditary disease in Brazil. Although strokes are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients, the use of transcranial Doppler to identify children at risk is not universally used. OBJECTIVE: To develop Brazilian guidelines for the use of transcranial Doppler in sickle cell disease children and adolescents, so that related health policies can be expanded, and thus contribute to reduce morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The guidelines were formulated in a consensus meeting of experts in transcranial Doppler and sickle cell disease. The issues discussed were previously formulated and scientific articles in databases (MEDLINE, SciELO and Cochrane) were carefully analyzed. The consensus for each question was obtained by a vote of experts on the specific theme. RESULTS: Recommendations were made, including indications for the use of transcranial Doppler according to the sickle cell disease genotype and patients age; the necessary conditions to perform the exam and its periodicity depending on exam results; the criteria for the indication of blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy; the indication of hydroxyurea; and the therapeutic approach in cases of conditional transcranial Doppler. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian guidelines on the use of transcranial doppler in sickle cell disease patients may reduce the risk of strokes, and thus reduce the morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life of sickle cell disease patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Hemoglobin, Sickle , Child , Adolescent , Guideline , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial/methods , Stroke/prevention & control , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Anemia, Sickle Cell/therapyABSTRACT
This letter to the Editor about "the urgency of the introduction ofNAT in Brazil" complements and defines the position of theDirectorate of the Brazilian Society of Hematology and Hemotherapyin respect to letters to the Editor both in this and the previous issueof the RBHH.
Subject(s)
Humans , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Safety/standards , Blood Transfusion/standardsABSTRACT
A reunião de consenso brasileiro sobre atividades esportivas e militares e herança falciforme foi realizada no dia 3 de setembro de 2007, no Rio de Janeiro, e reuniu especialistas, representantes das Forças Armadas e de associações de pacientes de doença falciforme. Questões relativas à prática de esporte amador e profissional e do serviço militar foram amplamente discutidas, tendo como base a literatura científica e a experiência de cada um dos participantes. Ao final, algumas recomendações foram assim definidas: 1. O indivíduo portador de traço pode fazer qualquer modalidade de esporte, já que não há dados epidemiológicos consistentes que impeçam a prática de qualquer esporte; 2. Não é necessário fazer triagem para hemoglobinopatias em indivíduos que queiram praticar esportes, quer de natureza amadora ou profissional; 3. Para servir às Forças Armadas não é necessário fazer teste de triagem para hemoglobinopatias, o que equivale dizer que os portadores de traço falciforme podem serviràs Forças Armadas; 4. É fundamental que se esclareça entre os mais diferentes segmentos da sociedade que a heterozigose para a hemoglobina S não confere ao seu portador maior risco que a população geral no que tange às atividades físicas, desde que atendidas as condições básicas de hidratação e de descanso.
The Brazilian consensus meeting concerning sports and military activities and the sickle cell trait was held on September 3rd, 2007 in Rio de Janeiro and brought together experts, and members of the armed forces and sickle cell disease associations. Issues related to the practice of professional and amateur sports and military service were widely discussed based on the scientific literature and the experience of each participant. These were the final recommendations: 1. an individual with sickle cell trait can practice any type of sport because there is no consistent epidemiological data to recommend the contrary; 2. hemoglobin screening is not needed for individuals who want to practice sports, whether as amateur or professional sportspeople; 3. it is not necessary to undergo a screening test for hemoglobin to serve the armed forces, which means that the carriers of the sickle cell trait can serve the armed forces; 4. it must be made clear to the different segments of society that heterozygosis for hemoglobin S does not confer any specific risk to the practice of physical activities, provided the basic conditions of hydration and rest are observed.