Correlation between nephropathy and ophthalmic complications in cases of sickle cell anemia: An entangled association

• Published in: Indian journal of medical specialities 2019-04, Vol.10 (2), p.72-75
• Main Authors: Pareek, Aditi, Khandekar, Aditya, Acharya, Sourya, Tidake, Pravin, Shukla, Samarth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute pain; Anemia; Diabetic nephropathies; Endothelium; Glutamate; Ischemia; Kidney diseases; Medical research; Risk factors; Sickle cell anemia
• ISSN: 0976-2884; 0976-2892
• DOI: 10.4103/INJMS.INJMS_4_19

Background: Sickle cell disease commonly presents with unpredictable episodes of vasocclusion and pre mature RBC destruction, which manifest as acute pain and tissue ischemia. In kidneys, endothelial dysfunction occurs in the nephron leading to microalbuminuria, vaso-occlusion, ischemia, infarction, and ultimately nephron loss. Proliferative and non-proliferative retinal changes can also occur, due to similar underlying pathophysiology of vasospasm. Aims and Objectives: To study the correlation between Sickle Cell Nephropathy and Ophthalmic Complications in cases of Sickle Cell disease. Materials and Methods: Thirty five adults aged 18 to 60 years, having Sickle Cell disease were selected as study participants. Complete blood analysis was carried out, with assessment of Urine Albumin: Creatinine ratio and ophthalmic findings, studied by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Results: Patients were divided into two categories: Category I comprising of 7 patients who were admitted to the Medicine ICU with Crisis, and Category II comprising of 28 clinically stable patients. 5 patients from Category I (71.4%), and 2 patients from Category II (7.1%), were found to have findings of peripheral retinopathy. Category I patients had received a mean of 6.17 ± 2.14 blood transfusions, Category II patients had received 2.89 ± 1.81 transfusions, difference being statistically significant. Mean Hb in Category I patients was 6.37 ± 0.35 gm/dl, compared to 7.95 ± 0.81 gm/dl in Category II patients. The mean Urine Albumin/ Creatinine ratio of patients having Ophthalmic manifestations was found to be 286.71 ± 74.75 mg/g, while the mean Urine Albumin/ Creatinine ratio of patients with no Ophthalmic manifestations was found to be 31.82 ± 4.48 mg/g, difference being statistically significant. Conclusion: Sickle Cell nephropathy and retinopathy appear to stem as manifestations of a common underlying mechanism of sickle vasculopathy, and thus can be studied as markers for each other.