| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2004 | Volume
: 11
| Issue : 3 | Page : 109-113 |
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Pattern of pulmonary manifestations in patients with sickle cell disease and fever
Abdulla F Al-Mulhim
Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Abdulla F Al-Mulhim
Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, P.O. Box 3131, Al-Khobar 31952
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 23012060 
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Objectives : The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and pattern of pulmonary manifestations in febrile patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD), a condition prevalent in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Design: The main pulmonary complications in febrile adult SCD patients were studied between January 1986 and December 1990.
Material and Methods : The medical records, chest X-rays and microbiological data of all febrile (temperature >38 o C) SCD patients >12 years of age admitted to KFHU during the study period were retrospectively reviewed.
Results : Of the 164 patient-episodes in 49 male and 19 female SCD patients, chest X-rays were abnormal in 33 (20.1%) episodes. Of these 33, there was consolidation in 17 (52%), pleural effusion in 6 (18%), pleural effusion and consolidation in 4 (12%), consolidation with collapse in 3 (9%), pleural thickening in 2 (6%) and bronchogenic carcinoma in one.
Conclusion : Pneumonia was the most common complication in Saudi SCD patients with abnormal chest X-rays. Chest X-rays are most useful in SCD patients with symptoms of chest infection, abnormal chest signs, or those with persistent fever during vaso-occlusive crisis. |
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