title: Hepatobiliary abnormalities in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic abnormalities in the hepatobiliary system of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease in the city of Salvador, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  pediatric patients with sickle cell disease were clinically evaluated, their charts were reviewed and findings of supplementary tests were examined to identify hepatobiliary abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a total of 134 patients were evaluated, 65 of whom (48.9%) presented hepatomegalia. Elevated transaminases were present in 42.2% and 11.4% presented cholelithiasis. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of hepatomegalia and SS homozygotes and between cholelithiasis and patients over 10 years of age (p = 0.01 and p = 0.00, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hepatobiliary abnormalities in patients with sickle cell disease were common, particularly in patients with hemoglobin SS and in adolescent patients.
authors: Postgraduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Brasil.
authors: Roberto Paulo
authors: RP
authors: Almeida
authors: Cibele Dantas
authors: CD
authors: Ferreira
authors: Joseni
authors: J
authors: Conceição
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Franca
authors: Isa
authors: I
authors: Lyra
authors: Luciana Rodrigues
authors: LR
authors: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*