Neurological Manifestations of Sickle Cell Anaemia among Sudanese patients

Abstract Introduction: Central nervous system involvement is one of the most devastating aspects of sickle cell disease. Objectives: The aim of this review is to document the range of neurological complications of sickle cell disease. Methods and materials: This is a descriptive cross-sectional Hospital based study. One hundred Sudanese patients with Sickle cell anemia were included in the study during the period from March to July 2018. Results: The most common age group affected was below 20 years, Male to female ratio was almost equal; irritability & headache were the most common symptoms 41%, 40% respectively. Numbness was observed in 25%, hemiplegia in 24%, seizure in 19%, recurrence of hemiplegia occurred in 8%, gait was found to be spastic in 14%, limping gait (due to non-neurological causes) in 7%, while inability to walk in 6% and cerebellar manifestation in 2%.Conclusion: The study revealed high incidence of irritability and headache followed by numbness then hemiplegia.Hemiplegia is usually ischemic in children and hemorrhagic in adults. Silent brain infarcts occur in 17% of patients. Convulsions occur as an isolated event but frequently associated with stroke.