Abstract

LOSADA BUCHILLON, Rafael et al. Patients with sickle cell anemia and advanced age in Trinidad and Tobago. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2996.

Sickle cell anemia includes a heterogenous group of pathological processes from the genetic and clinical point of view. With the appearance of new therapeutic modalities, the life expectancy of these patients has increased. Several studies on advanced age patients have been published, but it is not known if they present advantageous physiological characteristics. The clinical picture and the laboratory results of 40 patients over 40 that received attention at the Hematology Service of Port of Spain between January and June 2004 were analysed. Average age was 48.82 (40-66) years old. 25 (62.5 %) were 40-49 years old; 11 were 50-59, and 4 (10 %) were 60 or over.13 (32.5 %) were males and 27 (67.5 %) were females. 3 presented phenotype SS and 7 had (17.5 %) phenotype SC. Average age at the time of diagnosis was 14.6 (0-38) years old. A numerous group of patients with sickle cell anemia and advanced age was found. The characteristics of the clinical picture and the results of the laboratory tests evidenced a little severity of the disease, so they may be a subgroup with distinctive physiopathological features. It would be convenient to undertake new studies to identify factors related to the severity of the clinical picture and the survival of this type of patients

Keywords : Sickle cell anemia; advanced age; SS; SC.