Summary

The reported incidence of all types of stroke in childhood is relatively low, with 2.6 occurring per 100,000 white children and 3.1 per 100,000 in black children [Broderick et al. Child Neurol 1993]. However, additional analyses indicate that children with sickle cell disease (SCD) face a huge relative risk of ischemic stroke compared with a healthy population (RR=220) [Earley et al. Neurology 1998]. Chronic blood transfusion therapy has been employed as secondary prevention of stroke in patients with SCD for over 30 years