title: Gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in children with sickle cell anemia: correlation with echocardiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The heart is one of the organs affected by sickle cell anemia (SCA). This prospective study has aimed to evaluate myocardial perfusion and left ventricle (LV) function in children with SCA by gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (G-MPS) and to compare the results with echocardiographic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients with SCA were evaluated by G-MPS and echocardiography. Myocardial perfusion and motion with thickening function were analyzed both visually and quantitatively. End-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), lung-to-heart (L/H) ratio were also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients showed stress perfusion impairment in G-MPS. LV dilatation in 15 patients was observed both by G-MPS and echocardiography. EF values were within normal limits. Correlation between EF values calculated by two methods was not statistically significant. However, LV dilatation detected by both methods and EDV-ESV values in G-MPS were correlated to end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters calculated in echocardiography (p<0.05). M-Mode echocardiography revealed higher myocardial performance index (LV-MPI) in patients with LV dilatation. There was also a significant relationship between LV dilatation and frequent blood transfusions (>5/years) and acute chest syndrome (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myocardial perfusion impairment in children with SCA is not frequently observed. Thus, performing the scintigraphy only in patients with cardiac symptoms should be considered. Since EF values of the children with SCA are not deteriorated in early stages, LV-MPI and LV dilatation should be considered as a significant parameter other than EF or perfusion data.
authors: Mersin University, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Turkey.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Hallioglu
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ceylan Gunay
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Unal
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Erdogan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Balci
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Citirik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055426:Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D000077588:Deferasirox; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004176:Dipyridamole; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004176:Dipyridamole; D000077588:Deferasirox; D006918:Hydroxyurea