title: High prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in children with sickle cell disease.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) affects approximately 30% of adults with sickle cell disease. Adults with PHT have a significantly higher mortality rate. We report the results of a prospective study of the prevalence of PHT among children with sickle cell disease. In our cohort, 31% of children>or=10 years of age have evidence of PHT by Doppler echocardiography. Factors associated with the presence of PHT are male sex and elevated reticulocyte count. We recommend screening all children for PHT starting at the age of 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis and St Paul, MN 55404, USA. stephen.nelson@childrensmn.org
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Beverly B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Adade
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Moquist
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hennessy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors