Ultrasound Imaging in Subjects with Sickle Cell Disease: The Saudi Arabia Experiences

Abstract

Background

Abdominal organ sonography is a crucial part of the workup for treating sickle cell disease (SCD) patients.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the abdominal organs in SCD patients using ultrasonography.

Methodology

A non-interventional descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Asir region Saudi Arabia from April 2019 to July 2020. The study was conducted in 78 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Data were gathered using a data collection sheet included demographic information, clinical information including medication types, and complications linked to SCD. Furthermore, the study evaluated abdominal ultrasound findings pertaining to the liver, gall bladder, spleen, and kidneys. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results

More than half of the study participants 43 (55.1%) were females. About 53.8% of the study participants received blood transfusions, and (11.5%) receive extra-vaccine. Concerning ultrasound findings, hepatomegaly was found in seventeen (21.8%), focal liver lesions in four (5.1%), gallstones in five (6.4%), splenomegaly in fifteen (19.3%), and the presence of splenic focal lesions was found in seven (9.0%). The most frequent complication associated with SCD was osteomyelitis sepsis in six cases (7.7%). The study revealed a significant correlation between the type of crisis and type of medication used and the size of the spleen (P-value <0.01), and no notable correlation was found between the types of crises and the size of the liver (P-value >0.05).

Conclusion

Abdominal sonography in SCD patients revealed a wide range of alterations in the liver, gallbladder, and spleen. The most frequently observed complications in SCD were hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, localized lesions in both organs, and the presence of gallstones.

Keywords:

• sickle cell disease
• ultrasonography
• abdominal organ
• echo-texture

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through large group Research Project under grant Number RGP2/384/44.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University (Grant No. RGP2/384/44).