Silent cerebral infarcts: a review on a prevalent and progressive cause of neurologic injury in sickle cell anemia

Blood. 2012 May 17;119(20):4587-96. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-02-272682. Epub 2012 Feb 21.

Abstract

Silent cerebral infarct (SCI) is the most common form of neurologic disease in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). SCI is defined as abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in the setting of a normal neurologic examination without a history or physical findings associated with an overt stroke. SCI occurs in 27% of this population before their sixth, and 37% by their 14th birthdays. In adults with SCA, the clinical history of SCI is poorly defined, although recent evidence suggests that they too may have ongoing risk of progressive injury. Risk factors for SCI include male sex, lower baseline hemoglobin concentration, higher baseline systolic blood pressure, and previous seizures. Specific morbidity associated with SCI includes a decrement in general intellectual abilities, poor academic achievement, progression to overt stroke, and progressive SCI. In addition, children with previous stroke continue to have both overt strokes and new SCI despite receiving regular blood transfusion therapy for secondary stroke prevention. Studies that only include overt stroke as a measure of CNS injury significantly underestimate the total cerebral injury burden in this population. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, natural history, morbidity, medical management, and potential therapeutic options for SCI in SCA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / complications
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / epidemiology*
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / psychology
  • Asymptomatic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Infarction / epidemiology*
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nervous System Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Radiography
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult