TITLE:
Cholelithiasis in Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Ouagadougou Pediatric Hospital
AUTHORS:
Fla Kouéta, Sonia Kaboret, Caroline Yonaba, Aïssata Kaboré, Lassina Dao, Sak-Wend-Tongo Daïla, Hamidou Savadogo, Emile Bandré, Diarra Yé
KEYWORDS:
Cholelithiasis, Sickle Cell Disease, Children
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.5 No.3,
September
9,
2015
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes chronic hemolysis which is
a risk factor for cholelithiasis. Its development may lead to severe and
life-threatening complications. Objective: Determine the prevalence of
cholelithiasis, the conditions of diagnosis and related factors. Materials and Method:
We retrospectively reviewed records of 110 patients with sickle cell disease followed
up in Charles de Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital from January 2003 to
December 2013, including 103 patients who had abdominal ultrasonography.
Results: Cholelithiasis prevalence was 24.3%. The mean age of patients was 10.8
years, (range 3 to 15 years). Sex ratio was 2.1. In 88% cases, cholelithiasis
was diagnosed based on the characteristic symptoms of right hypocondrial pain,
fever and icterus. Most factors associated with cholelithiasis were as follows:
age above 10 years (OR = 4), occurrence of at least three (03) vaso-occlusive
crises per year (OR = 7.6), history of blood transfusion (OR = 8), right hypochondrial
pain (OR = 4.5) and icterus (OR = 15). Only 20% of patients
suffering from a symptomatic cholelithiasis underwent laparoscopic
cholecystectomy and results were conclusive. Conclusion: Patients with sickle
cell disease, especially those aged above 10, should be routinely tested for
cholelithiasis using abdominal ultrasonography at least once a year. Because of the
difficulties in managing evolutive complications in case of an emergency in our context, we advocate laparoscopic
cholecystectomy of any cholelithiasisas
soon as it is diagnosed in children with sickle cell disease.