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Effect of Haematocrit on Left Ventricular Dimensions and Systolic Function in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia: A Comparative Study

This was a comparative cross-sectional study where the left ventricular dimensions and functional parameters of 41 children (aged 1 to 18 years) with sickle cell anaemia were compared with those of 52 age-and-sex matched HbAA controls using transthoracic echocardiography. Majority of the left ventricular dimensions were significantly larger in the study group than the controls (p<0.05). The mean indices for left ventricular systolic function were higher in the study group than the controls though not statistically significant (p>0.05). Left ventricular dimensions correlated positively with age and body surface area in both groups (p<0.05) but inversely with haematocrit in the study group especially the left ventricular internal diameters in diastole and systole and left ventricular mass (p=0.001). Although 14.6% - 59.5% of the changes in cardiac dimensions were attributable to age, haematocrit level and body surface area in the study group (p<0.05), most of this effect was due to haematocrit.