A doença falciforme (DF) é caracterizada pela presença de uma Hemoglobina S (HbS), a qual confere a célula um formato de foice. Esta doença é considerada uma hemoglobinopatia por ser uma alteração genética humana com alta frequência populacional que requer tratamento precoce para que os pacientes possam sobreviver. As doenças falciformes mais comuns são: HbSC, HbSD, S beta talassemia e a forma homozigota HbSS, também denominada de Anemia Falciforme (AF). Para que se possam minimizar as internações, as complicações clínicas e aumentar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes são necessários compreender suas experiências com a doença. Nesta investigação o objetivo foi analisar os sentidos da experiência com a AF atribuídos pelos adoecidos. Para alcançar este objetivo, realizou-se estudo com abordagem metodológica qualitativa, adotando o referencial teórico da Antropologia Médica e a narrativa como método. Após aprovação ética da pesquisa, foram convidadas a participar do estudo onze pessoas com AF, em acompanhamento terapêutico em um Hemocentro do interior do estado de São Paulo. As técnicas de coleta de dados foram as entrevistas semiestruturadas gravadas, a observação direta e registros nos diários de imersão, realizadas no Hemocentro e no domicílio de alguns dos participantes. A partir das entrevistas foram construídas as narrativas individuais e identificação dos códigos. Para a análise dos dados provenientes das narrativas, utilizou-se a análise temática indutiva. Integrou-se os aspectos comuns e distintos das narrativas individuais em gerais classificadas por unidades de sentidos. Os resultados foram analisados e apresentados a partir de três narrativas: Narrativa 1. Importância do conhecimento sobre a doença e os tratamentos para o controle do corpo com a doença, na qual o sentido atribuído ao conhecimento sobre a doença, medicações, efeitos e complicações é de controle do corpo; Narrativa 2. Repercussões da doença, tratamentos e complicações para a vida, e os quatro subtemas: 2.1 Limitações físicas pelas complicações foi um dos aspectos mais destacados nas narrativas individuais. O sentido atribuído à estas limitações é de desesperança, pois alteram todas as dimensões da vida. 2.2 Vida atual e futuro, os participantes discorrem sobre as dificuldades na formação educacional e no trabalho e atribuem o sentido de normalidade da vida, 2.3 Estigma pela doença e preconceito pela cor da pele, neste subtema as descrições e justificativas atribuídas ao estigma e ao preconceito definem sentidos de vulnerabilidade pessoal e social, 2.4 Importância dos suportes familiar e religioso, os sentidos atribuídos à participação da família e da religião em suas vidas é de suporte emocional, proteção e esperança e Narrativa 3. Desafios para a gestação e maternidade, pelo qual compreende-se que para estas mulheres, o sentido de ser mãe é a de concretização da identidade feminina, mas com ambiguidade entre desejo e medo. Essas narrativas expõem as questões que foram significativas pela pessoa com AF na experiência com a doença e os tratamentos, integrando o presente ao passado e futuro. Por meio de estórias, o enredo da vida com a doença e tratamentos foi sendo construído, expondo conhecimentos, crenças, valores e práticas que os ajudaram a lidar com as situações. A análise das narrativas centradas na experiência de um grupo de pessoas com AF, a partir do sistema cultural, permitiu-nos explicar como a cultura influencia a doença e os tratamentos, por meio dos sentidos. Esta análise fornece conhecimento para além do modelo biomédico e pode ser aplicado em pesquisas futuras e no processo de trabalho em saúde / Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by the presence of Hemoglobin S (HbS) which gives to cell a sickle shape. This disease is considered a hemoglobinopathy because it is a human genetic alteration highly frequent in the population and it requires early treatment so patients can survive. The most common sickle cell diseases are: HbSC, HbSD, S beta-thalassemia and the homozygous form HbSS, also named Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). To minimize hospital admissions, clinical complications and increase patients\' life quality it is necessary to understand their experiences with the disease. In this investigation, the aim was to analyze the senses of the experience with SCA attributed by sick patients. To reach this goal, we conducted a study with a qualitative methodological approach, adopting the theoretical reference of Medical Anthropology and narrative as a method. After the ethical approval of the research, eleven people with SCA were invited to participate in the study, they were receiving therapeutic follow-up in a Blood Center in the countryside of São Paulo State. The techniques for data collection were semi- structured recorded interviews, direct observation and registers in diaries and immersion, done in the Blood Center and in the house of some participants. From the interviews, individual narratives and identification of codes were built. For the analysis of data from the narratives, we used an inductive theme analysis. We integrated common and distinct aspects of individual narratives in general aspects classified by units of senses. Results were analyzed and presented based on three narratives: Narrative 1. Importance of knowledge of the disease and treatments for body control with the disease, to which the sense attributed to the knowledge of the disease, medication, effects and complications is body control; Narrative 2. Repercussions of the disease, treatments and complications for life, and the four sub-themes: 2.1 Physical limitations by complications was one of the most highlighted aspects in individual narratives. The sense attributed to these limitations was lack of hope, because they alter all life dimensions. 2.2 Life today and future, participants talk about their difficulties in education and at work and they attribute the sense of life normality, 2.3 Stigma of the disease and prejudice against skin color, in this sub-theme the descriptions and justifications attributed to stigma and prejudice define the senses of personal and social vulnerability, 2.4 Importance of family and religious support, the senses attributed to the participation of family and religion in their lives is emotional support, protection and hope and Narrative 3. Challenges for pregnancy and motherhood, by which we understand that for these women the sense of being a mother is the solidification of the feminine identity, but with the ambiguity between fear and desire. These narratives expose questions that were significant for AF patient in the experience with the disease and treatments, integrating present into past and future. Through stories, the plot of life with the disease and treatments has been built, exposing knowledge, beliefs, values and practices that helped them to deal with situations. The analysis of the narratives centered in the experience of a group of people with SCA, from a cultural system, allowed us to explain how culture influences the disease and treatments, by the senses. This analysis provides knowledge beyond the biomedical model and can be applied in future research and in the work process in health

Introdução: a doença falciforme (DF) é uma condição crônica e de caráter hereditário que, devido a sua importância clínica e epidemiológica, constitui-se em um grave problema de saúde pública. As famílias de crianças com esta condição alteram suas rotinas e manejam os cuidados buscando adaptarem-se às frequentes crises e hospitalizações. Objetivos: este estudo visou conhecer a experiência de manejo familiar da criança com doença falciforme e, especificamente, procurou identificar como as famílias definem a situação, buscando compreender os comportamentos de manejo adquiridos na experiência do cuidado, além de conhecer as consequências percebidas pela família e geradas pela doença falciforme da criança. Método: trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que utilizou o Family Management Style Framework como referencial teórico e, como método, o estudo de caso sendo os dados analisados segundo o modelo híbrido de análise temática. A amostra foi composta por oito famílias de crianças com DF que fazem os acompanhamentos em um Hemonúcleo da Fundação Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Minas Gerais, as quais participaram de três entrevistas em profundidade, avaliadas por meio da composição de hemograma, ecomapa, linha do tempo da doença e análise de documentos, como exames, receituários e sumários de alta hospitalar. Resultados: as famílias definiram a situação da doença falciforme como um evento Assustador e de difícil Entendimento; a identidade das crianças oscilou entres as características de Vulnerável a Normal entendido como qualquer outra criança. Os comportamentos de manejo incidem sobre a responsabilidade que as famílias sentem em manterem a criança por perto, sendo vigilantes no controle da doença e buscando a manutenção da vida e do bem-estar desta criança. Assim, as famílias procuram adaptar-se às novas situações impostas pela doença. As consequências percebidas refletem que o foco destas famílias está na criança doente e no estímulo para que as crianças gerenciem os seus próprios cuidados preparando-as para a fase adulta. As expectativas familiares sobre o futuro estão na possibilidade de cura e de uma vida dentro da normalidade, embora relatem o medo da morte diante do curso incerto da doença. Considerações finais: a compreensão do manejo familiar das crianças com doença falciforme subsidiou propostas de intervenções, para estas famílias, com o intuito de orientá-las e apoiá-las na experiência do manejo; além de encorajar os profissionais de saúde que atuam com estas famílias a utilizarem este modelo de avaliação teórica para a execução de suas intervenções em todos os níveis de assistência à saúde. / Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic and hereditary condition that, due to its clinical and epidemiological importance, is a serious public health problem. The families of children with this condition alter their routines and manage the care seeking to adapt to frequent crises and hospitalizations. Objectives: This study aimed to know the experience of family management of the child with sickle cell disease and, specifically, sought to identify how families define the seeking to understand the management behaviors acquired in the care experience, as well as to understand the consequences perceived by the family and generated by the sickle cell disease of the child. Method: this is a qualitative research that used the Family Management Style Framework as a theoretical reference and, as a method, the case study - being the data analyzed according to the hybrid model of thematic analysis. The sample consisted of eight families of children with SCD who follow the follow-up in a Hemodynamic and Haemotherapy Center Foundation Hemodynamic of Minas Gerais, who participated in three in-depth interviews, evaluated through the composition of genogram, ecomapa, line time of disease and document analysis, such as exams, prescriptions and hospital discharge summaries. Results: Families defined sickle cell disease as a \"scary\" event and difficult to understand. Children\'s identities ranged from \"Vulnerable\" to \"Normal\" - understood as \"any other child\". Management behaviors focus on the responsibility that families feel in keeping the child close, being vigilant in controlling the disease and seeking to maintain the life and well-being of this child. Thus, families seek to adapt to the new situations imposed by the disease. The perceived consequences reflect that the focus of these families is on the sick child and the encouragement for children to manage their own care - preparing them for adulthood. Family expectations about the future lie in the possibility of healing and living within normality, even though they report the fear of death in the face of the uncertain course of illness. Final considerations: understanding the family management of children with sickle-cell disease subsidized intervention proposals for these families, with the aim of guiding them and supporting them in the management experience; in addition to encouraging health professionals working with these families to use this theoretical evaluation model for the execution of their interventions at all levels of health care.

While sickle cell disease (SCD) primarily affects those of African heritage, Latinos, the second most commonly affected group, are often not included in studies of youth with SCD. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to complete the linguistic translation validation of the PedsQL SCD Module, a recently validated disease specific quality of life (QOL) instrument, for use in Spanish speaking parents and youth with SCD (Aim 1). Using this instrument, QOL of Latino and African American youth with SCD who participated in an NIH funded study to improve adherence to hydroxyurea therapy (R21 NR013745) were compared (Aim 2) and factors associated with QOL examined (Aim 3). For Aim 1, 10 Latino youth with SCD (n = 5 age, 8-12 years; n = 5 age, 13-18 years) and their parents completed a demographic survey, Spanish version of PedsQL SCD Module and an audio-taped cognitive interview. Across age groups, all reported that the translated PedsQL Sickle Cell Disease Module was easy to understand and had minimal suggestions for further improvement. For Aims 2 and 3, secondary baseline data from 28 youth (mean age 13.6  2.4 years) with sickle cell disease and their parents who participated in the HABIT feasibility trial were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney test, and linear regression modeling. Latino youth reported higher QOL scores than non-Latino youth for all QOL measures except for the Worry II subscale of the disease-specific QOL measure while Latino parents reported higher QOL scores than non-Latino parents for all subscales except for three: the disease-specific Worry I, Worry II, and Communication I subscales. Poorer disease specific QOL was predicted by greater youth-parent discordance regarding sickle cell disease responsibility for parents (β = -3.07, p = 0.04) but not youth. Poorer disease-specific QOL was predicted by greater number of both emergency room visits during the prior year for both youth (β = -2.89, p = 0.005 [self-report]; β = -5.07, p = 0.002 [electronic medical records]) and parents (β = -3.41, p = 0.002 [self-report]; β = -6.93, p = <0.001 [electronic medical records]) and hospitalizations during the prior year (youth β = -5.72, p = <0.001 [self-report]; β = -7.56, p = 0.03 [electronic medical records]; parents β = -6.48, p = <0.001 [self-report]; β = -9.16, p = 0.02 [electronic medical record]). Based on these findings, greater youth-parent discordance regarding sickle cell family responsibility and greater utilization of emergency rooms and/or hospitals were associated with poorer disease-specific QOL.

Le premier objectif de cette thèse était d’améliorer l’utilisation et la compréhension des outils de mesure de la déformabilité du globule rouge (GR) dans la drépanocytose (Etudes 1 et 2). L’étude 1 a montré l’importance de la standardisation des mesures de déformabilité par ektacytométrie chez les enfants drépanocytaires. Au cours de l’étude 2, les propriétés des GR ont été modifiées et la variation des courbes de déformabilité érythrocytaire « classique » (index d’élongation en fonction de la contrainte de cisaillement en milieu isotonique) a été comparée aux résultats d’osmoscan (mesure de la déformabilité érythrocytaire en gradient osmolaire à contrainte de cisaillement fixe), méthode de référence pour étudier les anomalies de la membrane du GR. Ainsi, les variations de déformabilité érythrocytaire au-delà de 3 Pa sont affectées à la fois par la viscosité interne du GR et par des modifications de la surface cellulaire (rapport surface/volume) alors que les modifications de l’élasticité membranaire affectent la déformabilité érythrocytaire quelles que soient les forces de cisaillements utilisées (faibles, modérées ou hautes). Le deuxième objectif de cette thèse était d’apporter des éléments supplémentaires sur l’implication des facteurs génétiques, des paramètres hémorhéologiques et du niveau de stress oxydant sur la survenue des complications vaso-occlusives chez les patients atteints de syndrome drépanocytaire majeur (Etudes 3 à 6). La mise en commun des résultats d’hémorhéologie obtenus sur 165 patients de notre cohorte lyonnaise et 240 patients de la cohorte guadeloupéenne a permis de montrer que la rhéologie du GR chez les patients drépanocytaires était dépendante de l’âge. Ainsi, la viscosité sanguine augmente avec l’âge pour atteindre un plateau vers 30 ans alors que la déformabilité érythrocytaire diminue avec l’âge (Etude 3). Ces modifications participent vraisemblablement à l’apparition de complications chroniques chez l'adulte drépanocytaire. Les études 4 et 5 ont été réalisées sur la cohorte pédiatrique lyonnaise. Au cours de ces 2 études, nous avons étudié l’influence sur la rhéologie du sang et la survenue de crises vaso-occlusives (CVO) des facteurs génétiques (alpha-thalassémie, déficit en Glucose-6-Phosphate Déshydrogénase (G6PD) et haplotypes S) d’une part (Etude 4) et du niveau de stress oxydant et nitrosatif d’autre part (Etude 5). L’alpha-thalassémie augmente la déformabilité des GR et l’agrégation érythrocytaire. Ces 2 phénomènes pourraient participer à augmenter le risque de CVO. De plus, l’alpha-thalassémie, en diminuant l’hémolyse, diminuerait le niveau de stress oxydant, élément majeur impliqué dans la physiopathologie de la drépanocytose. Enfin, l’étude 6 a montré que la rhéologie sanguine des patients Sbêta+ était quasi-identique à celle des sujets sains AA mais que les patients les plus sévères pourraient avoir un déficit en monoxyde d’azote circulant. En conclusion, mon travail de thèse contribue à une meilleure compréhension de la physiopathologie de la drépanocytose / The first goal of this thesis (Study 1 and 2) was to improve the use and the comprehension of tools for red blood cell (RBC) deformability measurements in sickle cell disease (SCD). The first study showed the importance of standardization of RBC deformability measurements by ektacytometry in SCD children. In the study 2, the RBC proprieties was modified and the variation of « classic » RBC deformability curve (elongation index as a function of the shear stress in isotonic medium) was compared to osmoscan results (elongation index in hyperosmolar gradient and constant shear stress), the gold standard for RBC membrane defect studies. Thus, the modifications of RBC deformability curve above 3 Pa were affected by RBC internal viscosity and cellular surface modification (and thus surface/volume ratio) while membran elasticity modifications affected RBC deformability whatever the shear stress (low, moderate or high). The second goal of this thesis was to study the effects of genetic modifiers, hemorheological parameters and oxidative stress level on vaso-occlusive complications (VOC) in SCD (Study 3 to 6). Hemorheological parameters were measured on 165 patients from Lyon and 240 patients from Gwada and the results showed that blood viscosity increased until the age of 30 and RBC deformability decreased with age (Study 3). This modifications probably play role in the chronic complications of SCD adult patients. The studies 4 and 5 were conducted on SCD children. We studied the effects of genetic modifiers (alpha-thalassemia, glucose-6-phospho-deshydrogenase deficiency and S haplotypes ; study 3) and nitro-oxidative stress level (study 5). Alpha-thalassemia increase RBC deformability and RBC aggregation. This phenomenon could contribute to increase VOC. Moreover, alpha-thalassemia decreased hemolysis and thus oxidative stress, a major component of SCD physiopathology. Then the study 6 showed that Sbeta+ patient hemorheology was quite the same of AA ubjects but the more severe patients could have a defect in circulating nitric oxide. To conclude, my thesis contribute to a better understanding of SCD physiopathology

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A anemia falciforme (AF) à uma hemoglobinopatia hereditÃria autossÃmica causada por uma mutaÃÃo pontual no gene da beta globina gerando uma hemoglobina anormal denominada de hemoglobina S (HbS), em homozigose. A doenÃa se caracteriza por apresentar uma variabilidade do quadro clÃnico, que se deve à mÃltiplos fatores, dentre eles a concentraÃÃo de hemoglobina fetal (HbF), os haplÃtipos do gene da beta globina e os polimorfismos do gene BCL11A, entre outros. A avaliaÃÃo dos moduladores genÃticos na AF tem sido desenvolvida com a finalidade de melhorar o entendimento da sua fisiopatologia e direcionar a abordagem terapÃutica objetivando sua individualizaÃÃo. A pesquisa se propÃs a determinar a modulaÃÃo genÃtica dos polimorfismos do gene BCL11A (rs4671393, rs7557939 e rs1186868) sobre o perfil inflamatÃrio, hemolÃtico, no estresse oxidativo e nas concentraÃÃes das HbF, HbS nos pacientes portadores de AF, em estado estacionÃrio. O estudo foi do tipo transversal e analÃtico com 42 pacientes adultos, em acompanhamento ambulatorial no Hospital UniversitÃrio Walter CantÃdio (HUWC), com diagnÃstico molecular e haplÃtipos do gene da beta globina S previamente realizados. Os pacientes estavam em uso de HidroxiurÃia (HU), em mÃdia, 20mg/kg de peso corporal. Amostras biolÃgicas de sangue perifÃrico foram obtidas para a realizaÃÃo dos exames laboratoriais: as dosagens das citocinas prà inflamatÃrias IL-6, IL-17, TNF-alpha e das antiinflamatÃrias IL-10 e TGF-beta, por Elisa; contagem de reticulÃcitos por metodologia manual, dosagem de metemoglobina (MetHb) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH), por espectrofotometria; do nitrito (NOx), malonaldeÃdo (MDA) sÃricos, as enzimas antioxidantes eritrocitÃrias, catalase (CAT) e da glutationa peroxidase (GPx) por kits e espectrofotometria. Os polimorfismos genÃticos do gene BCL11A nas regiÃes, rs4671393, rs7557939 e rs1186868 foram determinados por Real Time PCR. As dosagens da HbF e HbS foram realizadas por HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Os dados idade, sexo e eventos clÃnicos foram obtidos dos prontuÃrios. Toda a anÃlise estatÃstica foi realizada usando o software livre R, na versÃo 3.1.2. Para anÃlise da frequÃncia do sexo e dos genÃtipos, por regiÃo e das associaÃÃes entre o tipo de haplÃtipo e dos eventos clÃnicos com as regiÃes do BCL11A, foram usados os testes de Qui-quadrado e o exato de Fisher. Realizou-se o teste paramÃtrico de ANOVA (obtido sob suposiÃÃes distribucionais), bem como o teste nÃo-paramÃtrico de Kruskal-Wallis para a anÃlise da associaÃÃo dos genÃtipos do gene BCL11A com a idade, os nÃveis de HbS, HbF, perfil inflamatÃrio, hemolÃtico e do estresse oxidativo. Foi considerado significante ao nÃvel de 5%. A maioria dos pacientes (57,14%) era do sexo feminino. A idade dos pacientes incluÃdos foi de 18 a 65 anos, com valor mÃdio e mediano de 35,1 e 33 anos, respectivamente. Somente a rs7557939 do BCL11A, o genÃtipo A/G foi o mais prevalente e a prevalÃncia do genÃtipo A/G foi maior nas mulheres , enquanto nos homens a prevalÃncia maior foi do genÃtipo A/A. No entanto, a rs1186868 do BCL11A, a maioria (56,52%) das mulheres apresentaram o genÃtipo C/T e a metade dos homens apresentaram o genÃtipo T/T. Nenhuma regiÃo do gene BCL11A apresentou associaÃÃo significativa com os haplÃtipos do gene da beta globina S. Em relaÃÃo a moduÃÃo do gene BCL11A com os nÃveis de HbS e HbF, verificou-se que na rs1186868 houve resultado significativo do genÃtipo mutante T/T, que apresentou maiores nÃveis de HbS e menores nÃveis de HbF. Na rs7557939 houve uma diminuiÃÃo significante de HbF no alelo mutante A/A, porÃm, nÃo houve relaÃÃo com a HbS. NÃo houve associaÃÃo entre os SNPs, nas trÃs regiÃes estudadas, com relaÃÃo ao nÃmero mÃdio/mediano dos moduladores inflamatÃrios, marcadores de hemÃlise, do estresse oxidativo e dos eventos clÃnicos, ao nÃvel de 5%.Os achados reforÃam a hipÃtese da moduÃÃo genÃtica dos polimorfismos do gene BCL11A em relaÃÃo aos nÃveis de HbF, onde os alelos selvagens, nas regiÃes rs7557939 e rs1186868 apresentaram um carÃter protetor no prognÃstico em decorÃncia de terem apresentado aumento dos nÃveis de HbF, nos pacientes com AF do estudo.

INTRODUÇÃO: As Hemoglobinopatias podem ser divididas em Talassemias e Doença Falciforme (DF), mas do ponto de vista clínico, ambas apresentam um quadro de anemia hemolítica crônica, o que acarreta uma série de complicações, entre estas a Hipertensão Pulmonar (HP). Estima-se que cerca de 20-40% da população com DF/talassemia apresente HP, sendo que este diagnóstico está associado a uma elevada morbi-mortalidade. Poucos estudos avaliaram esta prevalência em crianças. O Objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência desta complicação na população pediátrica, e associá-la com características clínicas e laboratoriais. MÉTODOS: Estudo de Corte Transversal, com avaliação de 45 pacientes com diagnóstico de DF ou Talassemia maior/ intermédia entre 3-18 anos, atendidos de forma consecutiva no ambulatório de Hemoglobinopatias do HCPA. Os pacientes foram submetidos a um ecocardiograma para estimativa da pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar, sendo que foi considerado como tendo risco de HP os pacientes com velocidade de regurgitação tricúspide (VRT) ≥ 2,5m/s. Foram obtidos dados clínicos e laboratoriais para avaliação dos parâmetros hemolíticos, função hepática e renal por levantamento de prontuário e comparados os grupos. RESULTADOS: 15% (6/40) dos pacientes apresentaram VRT ≥ 2,5m/s, sugestivo de HP, sendo que destes pacientes todos tinham diagnóstico de Anemia Falciforme (AF). Considerando apenas esta população, a prevalência de HP aumenta para 20% (6/30). A população com VRT ≥ 2,5m/s apresentou média de idade mais elevada, Hb mais baixa, RDW mais alargado, reticulócitos e LDH mais elevado que o grupo com VRT < 2,5m/s. A principal intercorrência clínica nesta população foi a ocorrência de priapismo (p< 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com Hemoglobinopatias estão em risco aumentado para desenvolvimento de HP desde a infância, principalmente aqueles com AF. Estes pacientes apresentam os parâmetros laboratoriais sugestivos de hemólise alterados, assim como outros sintomas associados ao quadro hemolítico como o priapismo quando comparados com pacientes com VRT normal. Desta forma sugere-se a realização de triagem com ecocardiograma nesta população de forma precoce. / INTRODUCTION: The Hemoglobinopathies can be divided in Thalassemias and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), but clinically both present with chronic hemolytic anemia, which leads to various complications, one of them being Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). About 20-40% of patients with SCD have PH, and this diagnosis is associated with a high risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of this complication in the pediatric population, and associate clinical and laboratory characteristics. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study, with the evaluation of 45 patients with diagnosis of SCD or thalassemia major/intermedia between 3-18 years, which received treatment at the Hemoglobinopathies ambulatory at HCPA. The patients were submitted to an echocardiogram to estimate the pulmonary artery systolic pressure, being considered to have PH patients with a tricuspid regurgitate jet velocity (TRV) ≥ 2.5m/s. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained to evaluate hemolytic parameters, renal and liver function and compared between groups. RESULTS: 15% (6/40) of patients had a TRV ≥ 2.5m/s, suggestive of PH, of which all had Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). Considering this group of patients alone the prevalence would be of 20% (6/30). Patients with TRV ≥ 2.5m/s had a higher median age, lower hemoglobin count, higher RDW, reticulocyte and DHL then patients with a TRV < 2.5m/s. The major clinical feature was the occurrence of priapism (p<0,05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies are at higher risk of developing PH since early childhood, especially those with SCA. These patients showed a higher level of hemolytic parameters, as well as symptoms associated with hemolysis, like priapism, when compared with patients with a normal TRV. Therefore, it would be indicated to submit these patients to an echocardiogram routinely in their early years.

Background: With increasing technological advancements, healthcare providers are adopting electronic health records (EHRs) and new health information technology systems. Consequently, data from these systems is accumulating at a faster rate creating a need for more robust ways of capturing, storing and processing the data. Big data analytics is used in extracting insight form such large amounts of medical data and is increasingly becoming a valuable practice for healthcare organisations. Could these strategies be applied in disease management? Especially in rare conditions like Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)? The study answers the following research questions;1. What Data Management practices are used in Sickle Cell Anaemia management?2. What areas in the management of sickle cell anaemia could benefit from use of big data Analytics?3. What are the challenges of applying big data analytics in the management of sickle cell anaemia?Purpose: The purpose of this research was to serve as pre-study in establishing the opportunities and challenges of applying big data analytics in the management of SCDMethod: The study adopted both deductive and inductive approaches. Data was collected through interviews based on a framework which was modified specifically for this study. It was then inductively analysed to answer the research questions.Conclusion: Although there is a lot of potential for big data analytics in SCD in areas like population health management, evidence-based medicine and personalised care, its adoption is not a surety. This is because of lack of interoperability between the existing systems and strenuous legal compliant processes in data acquisition.

La drépanocytose est une maladie chronique et génétique de l’hémoglobine. Elle se caractérise par la survenue très précoce de crises de douleurs extrêmement intenses et le plus souvent imprévisibles. Le seul traitement qui permet, à l’heure actuelle, d’obtenir la guérison du malade est la transplantation de cellules souches hématopoïétiques à partir d’un donneur compatible et apparenté. Or, si la greffe est curative, elle est aussi un processus dangereux et incertain qui conduit à une prise de risque importante. En outre, la guérison n’offre pas le retour à un état de santé d’avant la maladie, mais l’accès à un état inédit et jusque-là inconnu, elle conduit donc le sujet à opérer d’importants remaniements, notamment identitaires.Dans une première partie, nous décrirons la drépanocytose dans ses dimensions somatiques, anthropologiques et psychiques afin de déployer les différents aspects qui contribuent à sa puissance identificatoire. Puis, nous nous intéresserons aux effets de la greffe et aux remaniements qu’elle provoque, depuis son annonce et jusqu’à 20 ans après la transplantation. Notre objectif est d’interroger la notion de guérison telle qu’elle est annoncée par le monde médical et de soutenir qu’elle ne peut se réduire aux seuls effets somatiques. Nous souhaitons, ainsi, plaider pour l’organisation systématique d’un accompagnement des effets psychiques induits par ce processus complexe, radical et profondément bouleversant, à toutes ses étapes, tant chez l’adulte que chez l’enfant. / Sickle cell disease is a chronic and genetic disease of hemoglobin. It is characterized by the very early onset of extremely intense and often unpredictable pain attacks. The only treatment that currently enables the patient to be cured is the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from a compatible and related donor. However, if the graft is curative, it is also a dangerous and uncertain process that leads to significant risk taking. In addition, healing does not offer a return to a state of health before the disease, but access to a new and unknown state, it leads the subject to make major changes, notably identitary.In a first part, we will describe sickle cell disease in its somatic, anthropological and psychic dimensions in order to deploy the various aspects that contribute to its identificatory power. Then, we will focus on the effects of the transplant and the changes it causes, since its announcement and until 20 years after transplantation. Our goal is to question the notion of healing as it is announced by the medical world and to argue that it can not be reduced only to somatic effects. We thus wish to advocate for the systematic organization of an accompaniment of the psychic effects induced by this complex radical and deeply upsetting process, at all its stages, for the adult as well as for the child.

Intracellular polymerization of deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin (Hb S) remains the principal cause of the pathophysiology associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). Naturally occurring and synthetic allosteric effectors of hemoglobin (AEH) have been investigated as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of SCD. Several aromatic aldehydes, including vanillin, have been studied previously as AEHs for their antisickling activities. Specifically, these compounds form Schiff- base adduct with Hb to stabilize the oxygenated (R) state, increase Hb affinity for O2 and concomitantly prevent the hypoxia-induced primary pathophysiology of Hb S polymerization and RBC sickling, in turn, ameliorating several of the cascading secondary adverse effects. These compounds, however, undergo significant metabolism leading to suboptimal pharmacokinetic properties, e.g. short duration of pharmacologic action and low bioavailability. These drawbacks have severely hampered the use of aromatic aldehydes as AEHs to treat SCD. To counter these challenges, we designed and synthesized 14 novel compounds (PP- compounds) based on previously studied pyridyl derivative of vanillin. These modifications were expected to increase binding interactions with the protein and thus stabilize the Schiff-base adduct, as well as lead to perturbation of the surface-located F-helix that would stereospecifically destabilize polymer contacts. We investigated the in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of these newly synthesized compounds to ascertain sustained binding and modification of normal human Hb. Subsequently, we conducted in vitro screening assays to test for inhibition of sickling, modification of Hb to the high-affinity form, as well as for a direct left-shift in oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC). Three selected compounds, PP6, PP10, and PP14, that demonstrated not only high antisickling activity but also showed sustained pharmacologic action were chosen for preliminary in vivo studies. Our results showed maximal levels of Hb modification, which were sustained for the entire 24 h experimental period. In contrast, TD-7 after reaching maximum effect at 1 h gradually decreased in potency and at 24 h has lost 45% of its activity, consistent with the low bioavailability of this compound. These findings suggested that our modifications appeared to successfully limit drug metabolism in red blood cells. Most of these compounds showed almost complete inhibition of sickling at 2 mM concentration; with significant modification of Hb to a higher affinity Hb as well as an increase in O2 affinity of Hb. Interestingly, while TD-7 demonstrated a clear linear correlation between its ability to increase Hb-O2 affinity and antisickling activity, PP2, PP3, PP6, PP9, PP10, and PP14, showed a weak correlation between these parameters. In fact, these compounds demonstrated high antisickling effect despite only marginally increasing Hb affinity for O2. This observation indicated that these compounds possibly exhibit the dual mechanism of antisickling activity. We hypothesize that their secondary mechanism of action is due to interactions with the surface located αF-helix that would lead to direct or stereospecific inhibition of polymer formation. To establish the mode of interaction with Hb, we further conducted x-ray crystallography studies and co-crystallized PP2, PP6, PP9 and PP11 with CO-liganded Hb. Our studies showed that these compounds bind in symmetry-related fashion at the α-cleft of Hb to form Schiff-base adducts with the N-terminal Val1 and showed direct interactions with the F-helix which overall enhanced interactions with Hb. PP6, PP10, and PP14 demonstrated significant in vivo modification of intracellular Hb in mice after IP administration, with increasing levels from 1 h to the 6 h experimental period. They also showed corresponding changes in O2 affinity observed at 3 h and 6 h, compared to 0 h pre-treatment samples in vivo. Thus, our results establish these compounds as a novel, promising group of potent anti-sickling agents, demonstrate their proposed mechanism of action and provide proof-of-concept justifications for our structure-based approach to developing potent therapeutics for SCD.

Because of the high mortality rate of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients who do not continue care into adulthood, researchers have paid increasing attention to the health care transition experiences of SCD patients. However, a gap exists regarding patients' perspectives of care transition related to their quality of life. The purpose of this phenomenological study, guided by the biosocial-ecological systems model, was to explore the lived health care transition experiences of SCD patients in relation to their health-related quality of life. Data collection included open-ended interviews with 12 patients in the Southwestern United States. Colaizzi's (1978) method of phenomenological data analysis was used to identify themes, including resistance to transition; inadequate transitional support; lack of autonomy and education; fear, anxiety, and stress; and managing other life changes. Results contribute to the existing research on SCD health care transition, broaden understanding of the transition process and provide guidance for improving transition programs.