Table 2.
Inclusions and Exclusions for Changing Primary Stroke Prevention from Chronic Transfusion to hydroxyurea65
| Inclusion Criteria | |
| Diagnosis | Sickle cell anemia |
| Age | 4 to 16 years |
| Transfusion duration | ≥12 months |
| TCD velocity on chronic transfusion | Normal or abnormal |
| Required studies | Brain MRI and MRA |
| Exclusion Criteria | |
| Clinical history | Stroke |
| Transient ischemic attack | |
| Prior severe vasculopathy | |
| MRA findings | Moderate stenosis in 2 or more arteries |
| Any severe arterial stenosis | |
| TCD | Inadequate windows |
Note: Our practice is to continue chronic transfusion therapy in patients with persistently abnormal TCDs.
Abbreviations: TCD, transcranial Doppler ultrasound; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MRA, magnetic resonance angiography.