Sonographic Evaluation of Some Abdominal Organs in Sickle Cell Disease Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in Northeastern Nigeria.

Background: Sonographic evaluation of abdominal organs is an important work up in managing sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. This study aimed at evaluating abdominal organs by sonography among SCD patients.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Maiduguri, Nigeria from April 2014 to July 2015. Two hundred and fifty-two patients participated in the study, with 126 controls and 126 SCD patients. There were 131 (52%) males, and 121 (48%) females, with age range 3-38 years. Measurements were done using ultrasound machine with probe frequencies ranging from 1-4MHz and 4-9MHz in supine, right and left oblique positions for optimum visualization of the abdominal organs.

Results: Participants within the age range of 10-15 years had the highest frequency with 88 (34.9%), followed by those within the age group of 17-23 years with 86 (34.1%), and the least were those within the age group of 30 years and above with 8 (3.2%). Hepatomegaly was found in 53 (75.7%), and increased echogenicity of the liver was found in 50 (94.3%) of the SCD patients, P = 0.000. Gallstones were found in 45 (17.9%), gallbladder sludge was found in 51 (21.4%) and thickened gallbladder wall was found in 84 (33.3%) of the SCD patients, P = 0.000. Autosplenectomy was found in 45 (17.9%), splenomegaly in 63 (24.9%), and calcified spleen in 18 (8.7%) of the SCD patients, P = 0.000. Enlarged kidneys in SCD patients were found in 61 (98.4%) and 63 (98.4%) on the right and left kidneys, respectively. Shrunken kidneys were found in 5 (2.0%) and 4 (1.6%) of the SCD patients on the right and left kidneys, respectively, P = 0.000.

Conclusion: Abdominal sonography in SCD patients revealed varied remarkable changes in the size, echotexture, intraluminal deposits and wall thickness in the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen.