Hypertension in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Comparative Study from Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is a chronic anaemia that is characterized by episodes of severe bone pain from blood vessels occlusion by sickled red blood cells when deoxygenated, and eventual end organ affectation and multi-organ failure. The aim of this study was to compare the arterial blood pressures of children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state with those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls and to identify those with hypertension.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Outpatient Paediatric Haematology Clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from January to March 2015. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured and a specific form was used to record data.

Results: There were a total of 50 children with sickle cell anaemia in stable state during the study period. Of these, 31 were male while 19 were females giving a Male: Female ratio of 1.6:1. All the patients had HbSS genotype. Most of them 22(44%) were between the ages of 5 and 10 years. The mean packed cell volume was 22.79±4.34. Majority of the patients had packed cell volume between 16 and 30. Most 41(82%) of them were underweight. The prevalence of hypertensive is 22%. Majority (82%) of them had low Body Mass Index.

Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the systolic blood pressure of children with sickle cell anaemia compared to age and sex matched controls. Hypertension appears to be frequently undiagnosed by paediatric clinicians. Early, appropriate diagnosis is important so as to establish effective treatment for abnormal blood pressure.