Neurologic complications of sickle cell disease in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To summarize prevalence data on the neurologic complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa.

Methods

We searched EMBASE, PubMed, and African Index Medicus to identify all relevant articles published from inception to May 31, 2016. Each study was reviewed for methodologic quality. A random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of neurologic complications of SCD across studies.

Results

Thirty-one studies were included. Methodologic quality was high or moderate in 90% of studies. Stroke, conditional and abnormal cerebral blood flow, seizures, and headache were the complications most frequently reported, with overall prevalence rates of 4.2%, 10.6%, 6.1%, 4.4%, and 18.9%, respectively. Some complications, like silent brain infarcts, periphera

SUBMITTER: Noubiap JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5631172 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature