Clinical expression of homozygous sickle cell gene in Yemeni children

ABSTRACT

In this study the demographic and clinical profile of 105 Yemeni children under 16 years old with sickle cell anemia [SCA] were studied. They were 53 males [50.4%] and 52 females [49.5%], aged between 0.5 and 15 years [mean 7.4ys]. The most serious crisis as vaso-oclusive, hemolytic, sequestration and aplastic crisis were seen in [83.8%], [52.3%], [6.6%] and [5.7%] respectively. The hand-foot syndrome was found in [21%] of all patients and in [51%] of children less than 3 years old. The most serious complication was the respiratory tract infections which was the most frequent in these patients, being encountered in [65.7%]. The rate of hospitalization was of [76%]. Our findings show that SCA has a severe clinical course in Yemenis, resembling that in black Africans and in black Americans