Objective To identify a unifying cardiac pathophysiology that explains the cardiac pathology in SCD. Background Cardiopulmonary complications, the leading cause of adult mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD), are associated with heart chamber dilation, diastolic dysfunction, elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, no unifying cardiac pathophysiology has been identified to explain these findings. Methods In a two-part study, we first examined SCD patients who underwent screening echocardiography during steady state at our institution. We then conducted a meta-analysis of cardiac studies in SCD. Results In the 134 SCD patients studied (median age 11 years), a significant enlargement of the left atrial volume was present (z-score 3.1, P=0.002), shortening fraction (SF) was normal (37.6 ± 4.7%), and lateral and septal ratios of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e′) were severely abnormal in 8% and 14% of patients, respectively, indicating impaired diastolic function. Both TRV and lateral E/e′ correlated with enlarged left atrial volume in SCD (P=0.003 and P=0.006, respectively). Meta-analysis of 68 studies confirmed significant left atrial diameter enlargement in SCD patients compared to controls, evidence of diastolic dysfunction and enlarged left ventricular end-diastolic dimension with normal SF. The majority of patients with catheter-confirmed PH had mild pulmonary venous hypertension consistent with restrictive cardiac physiology. Conclusions Patients with SCD have a unique cardiomyopathy with restrictive physiology that is superimposed on hyperdynamic physiology, and is characterized by diastolic dysfunction, left atrial dilation and normal systolic function. This results in mild, secondary, pulmonary venous hypertension and elevated TRV. Sudden death is common in other forms of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Our finding of this unique restrictive cardiomyopathy may explain the increased mortality and sudden death seen in patients with SCD with mildly elevated TRV.
Cardiopulmonary complications are the leading cause of mortality in sickle cell anemia (SCA). Elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity, pulmonary hypertension, diastolic, and autonomic dysfunction have all been described, but a unifying pathophysiology and mechanism explaining the poor prognosis and propensity to sudden death has been elusive. Herein, SCA mice underwent a longitudinal comprehensive cardiac analysis, combining state-of-the-art cardiac imaging with electrocardiography, histopathology, and molecular analysis to determine the basis of cardiac dysfunction. We show that in SCA mice, anemia-induced hyperdynamic physiology was gradually superimposed with restrictive physiology, characterized by progressive left atrial enlargement and diastolic dysfunction with preserved systolic function. This phenomenon was absent in WT mice with experimentally induced chronic anemia of similar degree and duration. Restrictive physiology was associated with microscopic cardiomyocyte loss and secondary fibrosis detectable as increased extracellular volume by cardiac-MRI. Ultrastructural mitochondrial changes were consistent with severe chronic hypoxia/ischemia and sarcomere diastolic-length was shortened. Transcriptome analysis revealed up-regulation of genes involving angiogenesis, extracellular-matrix, circadian-rhythm, oxidative stress, and hypoxia, whereas ion-channel transport and cardiac conduction were down-regulated. Indeed, progressive corrected QT prolongation, arrhythmias, and ischemic changes were noted in SCA mice before sudden death. Sudden cardiac death is common in humans with restrictive cardiomyopathies and long QT syndromes. Our findings may thus provide a unifying cardiac pathophysiology that explains the reported cardiac abnormalities and sudden death seen in humans with SCA.sickle cell anemia | cardiomyopathy | restrictive physiology | arrhythmias | sudden death S ickle cell anemia (SCA) results from a point mutation in the β-globin gene and affects millions world-wide. It is characterized by production of the mutant hemoglobin S (HbS), which polymerizes upon deoxygenation and distorts the shape of RBCs, increasing their propensity to hemolysis and microvascular occlusion. Recurrent cycles of HbS polymerization result in a host of acute and chronic complications, including vaso-occlusive pain crisis, chronic hemolytic anemia, and organ damage. SCA-associated mortality rates have improved because of early diagnosis with universal newborn screening, immunization, and penicillin prophylaxis, which has changed the natural history of SCA (1, 2) and the impact of SCA on organ pathologies is now becoming evident.Despite improved early survival, nearly one-third of young adults with SCA die suddenly (3-9). The sickle myocardium has been presumed to be relatively resistant to the effects of sickling (10), and studies/autopsies show little evidence of atherosclerosis or coronary disease (11)(12)(13)(14). Mildly increased systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) estimated by tricuspid regurgitant jet vel...
Background The Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) was developed and validated to detect arthropathy in children. Additional evidence is required to show validity in adults. We studied the convergent and discriminant construct validity of the HJHS version 2.1(HJHSv2.1) in adults with hemophilia. A secondary aim was to define age‐related normative adult HJHSv2.1 reference values. Methods We studied 192 adults with hemophilia, and 120 healthy adults in four age‐matched groups—18 to 29, 30 to 40, 41 to 50, and >50 years—at nine centers. Trained physiotherapists scored the HJHS and World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) joint score. Health history, the Functional Independence Scale of Hemophilia (FISH), Hemophilia Activities List (HAL), and Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ) were also collected. Results The median age was 35.0 years. Of participants with hemophilia, 68% had severe, 14% moderate, and 18% mild disease. The HJHS correlated strongly with WFH score (Spearman’s rho [rs] = .95, P < .001). Moderate correlations were seen between the FISH (rs = .50, P < .001) and SF‐MPQ Present Pain Intensity (rs = .50, P < .001), while a modest correlation was found with the HAL (rs = −.37, P < .001). The HJHS significantly differentiated between age groups (Kruskal‐Wallis T = 35.02, P < .001) and disease severity in participants with hemophilia. The HJHS had high internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = .88). We identified duration of swelling as a redundant item in the HJHS. Conclusions The HJHS shows evidence of strong convergent and discriminant construct validity to detect arthropathy in adults with hemophilia and is well suited for use in this population.
Introduction Surgery is frequently required in persons with haemophilia A (PwHA). Emicizumab, a bispecific, humanized monoclonal antibody, bridges activated factor (F) IX and FX. Management of patients undergoing surgery while receiving emicizumab is of clinical interest due to paucity of data. Aim Review real‐world experience of PwHA with/without FVIII inhibitors who required surgery while receiving emicizumab prophylaxis. Methods Data regarding peri‐operative management, including type of surgery, haemostatic agent use and bleeding complications, were collected for PwHA receiving emicizumab undergoing surgery between 25/10/18 and 31/12/19 at the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center. Analyses were exploratory and descriptive. Results Twenty minor and five major surgeries were performed in 17 and five patients, respectively. Overall, 9/20 minor surgeries were planned to occur with emicizumab as the sole haemostatic agent; of these, four required additional coagulation factor (2 due to haematomas following port removals, 1 due to oozing at port removal site, 1 due to bleeding following squamous cell carcinoma removal). Three of the 11 minor surgeries with planned additional coagulation factor resulted in non‐major bleeds; all were safely managed with additional coagulation factor. All five major surgeries were planned with additional haemostatic agents; there was 1 bleed in a patient undergoing elbow synovectomy with nerve transposition, likely triggered by physical/occupational therapy. There were no major bleeds, thrombotic events or deaths. Conclusions Additional haemostatic agent use is safe in PwHA undergoing surgery while receiving emicizumab. Additional data are needed to determine the optimal dosing/length of treatment of additional haemostatic agents to lower bleeding risk.
Introduction For persons with hemophilia, optimization of joint outcomes is an important unmet need. The aim of this initiative was to determine use of ultrasound in evaluating arthropathy in persons with hemophilia, and to move toward consensus among hemophilia care providers regarding the preferred ultrasound protocols for global adaptation. Methods A global survey of hemophilia treatment centers was conducted that focused on understanding how and why ultrasound was being used and endeavored to move toward consensus definitions of both point‐of‐care musculoskeletal ultrasound (POC‐MSKUS) and full diagnostic ultrasound, terminology to describe structures being assessed by ultrasound, and how these assessments should be interpreted. Next, an in‐person meeting of an international group of hemophilia health care professionals and patient representatives was held, with the objective of achieving consensus regarding the acquisition and interpretation of POC‐MSKUS and full diagnostic ultrasound for use in the assessment of musculoskeletal (MSK) pathologies in persons with hemophilia. Results The recommendations were that clear definitions of the types of ultrasound examinations should be adopted and that a standardized ultrasound scoring/measurement system should be developed, tested, and implemented. The scoring/measurement system should be tiered to allow for a range of complexity yet maintain the ability for comparison across levels. Conclusion Ultrasound is an evolving technology increasingly used for the assessment of MSK outcomes in persons with hemophilia. As adoption increases globally for clinical care and research, it will become increasingly important to establish clear guidelines for image acquisition, interpretation, and reporting to ensure accuracy, consistency, and comparability across groups.
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