Added value of speckle tracking in the evaluation of cardiac function in patients with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease and ventricular myocardial strain: A systematic review

“…was retrospective, and one (Mah et al.) was experimental 15,31–43,45,47 . Most studies obtained written consent and approval through an institutional review board or ethics committee.…”

“…Most studies obtained written consent and approval through an institutional review board or ethics committee. Eleven studies reported that patients were in steady state at the time of myocardial strain evaluation, defined as not being in any state of crisis or experiencing an acute event, generally for a minimum of 1 month 15,32,34–37,39–42,44,47 . The remaining six studies did not indicate timing of the patients’ last crisis in relation to myocardial strain evaluation (Table 3).…”

“…All remaining subjects were classified as having SCD ( n = 136) (Table 1). 15,31–47 Youssry et al. classified patients by subphenotype, not genotype, as follows: viscosity vaso‐occlusion cohort (lactate dehydrogenase <270 U/L) and hemolysis endothelial dysfunction cohort (lactate dehydrogenase ≥270 U/L) 46 .…”

“…Thirteen studies included controls as a comparison group for a combined total of 421 controls (Table 1). 15,31–34,36,37,39–41,44–47 Nine studies reported that controls were matched for age and gender, while four studies reported no significant difference in these variables. Eight studies evaluated children (age ≤17 years), and 12 evaluated adults.…”

“…A growing number of studies have evaluated myocardial strain in individuals with SCD, but collective results have not yet been summarized. This systematic review is warranted to synthesize reported findings and remaining gaps in knowledge 15,31–47 …”