ABSTRACT
This prospective study examined the prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors of osteonecrosis of the femoral head among adult sickle cell disease patients in Guadeloupe. Screening of osteonecrosis of the femoral head was performed using radiography, bone scintigraphy, and tomodensitometry. One hundred thirteen adults with sickle cell disease (67 SS and 46 SC patients) comprised the study population. Forty-two (37.2%) patients had osteonecrosis of one or both hips (67 [29.6%] hips) without association to a particular genotype, although bilateral involvement was more frequent among SS patients. While the prevalence of femoral head osteonecrosis increased with age, patients of all ages were affected, particularly young SC adults. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head was diagnosed at preradiographic stages (stage I) in 30% of hips and was frequently asymptomatic (60% of all cases; 95% and 90% of stages I and II, respectively). Osteonecrosis of the femoral head was significantly associated with a history of leg ulcer and osteonecrosis of the humeral head. SS patients with higher hemoglobin levels had an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/epidemiology , Femur Head Necrosis/epidemiology , Adult , Age Distribution , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Comorbidity , Confidence Intervals , Female , Femur Head Necrosis/diagnosis , Guadeloupe/epidemiology , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a frequent complication of sickle-cell disease (SCD). We conducted systematic screening of ONFH by using the association of radiography, bone scintigraphy and tomodensitometry. This paper presents our first results concerning 113 adult patients (67 SS, 46 SC), prevalence, clinical features, risk factors, and association with other SCD complications. Forty-two patients (37.2 percent) were found to have osteonecrosis of one or both hips (67 hips, 29.6 percent) without association to a particular genotype, although bilateral involvement was considerably more frequent among SS patients. ONFH affected patients of all ages and in particular SC young adult patients were found to be affected frequently. ONFH was diagnosed at pre-radiological stages (Stage 1) for 31.3 percent of hips and was frequently aysmptomatic (60 percent of all cases, 95 and 90 percent of Stages I and II, respectively), indicating need for systematic screening when early diagnosis is desired. For SS patients, ONFH was more frequent when follow-up began later. ONFH was also associated with higher parity and history of leg ulcer for both genotypes. No correlation was found with biological data, in particular haematological variables, except for high glucose levels for SS patients. We have initiated a prospective study of ONFH among patients followed at the SCD Centre of Guadeloupe, with special concern in diagnosis at pre-radiological stages, and outcome of patients. Further data will be provided by longitudinal follow-up of adult patients as well as inclusion of children followed from birth after neonatal screening (AU)
