RESUMO
Abstract Sickle cell anemia (SCA) presents heterogenous clinical manifestations that cannot be explained solely by alterations to hemoglobin (Hb); other components such as endothelial adhesion, thrombosis and inflammation may be involved. The mannose-binding lectin (MBL) has an important role in innate immunity and inflammatory diseases. In this report, we describe an association between MBL2 polymorphism related to low production of serum MBL and the frequency of vasoocclusive events (FVOE) in children ≤ 5 years old with SCA (p = 0.0229; OR 5.55; CI 1.11-27.66). Further studies are needed to explore the role of low MBL2 in the pathophysiology of vasoocclusive events in SCA.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the geographical distribution of hemoglobinopathies in the State of Pernambuco, to characterize the children with these diseases and to describe factors associated with their follow-up at the referral center during the period from 2003 to 2010. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out of 275 medical records from a total of 302 children with hemoglobinopathies diagnosed by the National Neonatal Screening Program in the State of Pernambuco in the study period. Microsoft Excel was used for data processing and analysis. The chi-square and the Fisher test were used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%. Terra View software was used to analyze the geographical distribution of hemoglobinopathies in the State. RESULTS: A total of 8.9% of the cases of hemoglobinopathies detected in the period were not followed up at the referral center. For the mothers of children with diseases, this was their second or third or more pregnancy in 64.2% and 30.2%, respectively. Regarding the influence of region of residence and regular medical appointments, the study demonstrated that children from the Zona da Mata, Sertão and Vale do São Francisco regions did not attend 45.2%, 50% and 55.6% of their appointments in the outpatient department, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a significant number of children do not begin consultations in the outpatient clinic and even those who started treatment early and who have the most severe form of the disease, usually miss medical appointments...