title: Lung function and somatic growth in patients with hemoglobin SC sickle cell disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in lung function and somatic growth that occur over time in children with hemoglobin SC (Hb-SC) sickle cell disease (SCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements of lung function and somatic growth were performed in patients with Hb-SC twice with an interval of 50.2 +/- 26.0 months. Comparisons were made with a group of patients with hemoglobin SS (Hb-SS) SCD, matched by age, race, and gender who underwent similar testing and served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indices of lung function in patients with Hb-SC were and remained within the normal range in the two testing periods and they were significantly higher than those measured among patients with Hb-SS. However, there was significant and similar decline (as percentage from baseline) over time in both groups (forced vital capacity, FVC: -3.7 +/- 9.4 vs. -3.8 +/- 14.2; forced expiratory volume in the first second, FEV1: -7.4 +/- 9.3 vs. -6.8 +/- 15.2; forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of FVC, FEF(25-75): -13.7 +/- 20.6 vs. -12.1 +/- 24.7 for Hb-SC and Hb-SS respectively). The body mass index (BMI, percentile) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher among patients with Hb-SC (49 +/- 36 vs. 26 +/- 18) and increased over time in both groups (50 +/- 33 vs. 32 +/- 31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung function is generally normal among children with Hb-SC, but it declines over time in a fashion similar to that observed among patients with Hb-SS SCD. The decline is slow and it is not associated with changes in somatic growth. Our findings suggest that patients with Hb-SC should probably have the same close follow-up as patients with Hb-SS.
authors: Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. akoumbou@lij.edu
authors: Anastassios C
authors: AC
authors: Koumbourlis
authors: Donna J
authors: DJ
authors: Lee
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006450:Hemoglobin SC Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle