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May 8, 2026European Stroke Journal0 citationsOpen Access

Abstract Number: Esoc2026a1370 Transcranial Doppler Evaluation in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Two Cases From Equatorial Guinea

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IDIrene Díaz-DíazJGJesús Alberto Vizcaya GaonaMLMiriam Ravelo Leon

Key Points

  • Evaluate cerebrovascular risk in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease using transcranial Doppler neurosonology.
  • Case reports of two pediatric patients diagnosed with sickle cell anemia.
  • Transcranial Doppler used for neurosonological evaluation of arterial stenosis and stroke risk assessment.
  • Follow-up assessments conducted every 15 days to monitor systolic velocities.
  • Increased systolic velocities observed in both middle cerebral arteries for both patients, indicating high stroke risk.
  • First patient's left MCA velocity reached 203 cm/s, prompting red blood cell transfusion.
  • Follow-up for the second patient showed initial velocities of 160 cm/s, stabilizing at 150 cm/s after treatment.

Abstract

Abstract Background and aims Sickle cell disease is associated with a high risk of cerebrovascular events, especially ischemic lesions. From an epidemiological point of view, the prevalence of silent cerebral infarcts is high, reaching approximately 39% at age 18 in patients with more aggressive phenotypes.Transcranial Doppler (TCD) neurosonology is the standard technique for the early detection of arterial stenosis and identification of children at high risk of stroke. Methods We present the case of two patients, aged 6 and 9 years, from Equatorial Guinea, who were previously diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and without known brain lesions. They were referred to our service for neurosonological evaluation using (TCD). Results In the younger patient, the initial study showed increased systolic velocities (SV) in both middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), with asymmetry. In the left MCA, the SV reached 193 cm/s, whereas in the right MCA, it reached 137 cm/s. Based on these findings, a follow-up assessment was performed 15 days later. The SV was 203 cm/s in the left MCA territory and 181 cm/s in the right MCA territory, prompting the initiation of treatment with red blood cell transfusions. The initial assessment of the second patient revealed elevated SV in both MCAs (160 and 175 cm/s, respectively). She was monitored every 15 days, and at the last follow-up, the SV values were 150 and 165 cm/s, respectively. Conclusions TCD is a safe and effective diagnostic method for the early identification of patients at high risk of cerebrovascular events, especially in pediatric patients. Conflict of interest Irene Díaz-Díaz: nothing to disclose Figure 1 - belongs to Results

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Díaz-Díaz et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69fd7e90bfa21ec5bbf06d02https://doi.org/10.1093/esj/aakag023.1556
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