Pattern of Proliferative Sickle Cell Retinopathy in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos

Vitreo-Retina

Abstract

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is caused by a single point mutation at the sixth position in the haemoglobin beta chain that  substitutes the amino acid valine for glutamic acid resulting in sickle haemoglobin (HbS)[1]. In proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, new  blood vessels develop at the border between the perfused and the nonperfused retina, these fragile blood vessels bleed  into the  vitreous and produce traction retinal detachment, the major cause of blindness in sickle cell disease subjects[2] .

Methods: Thirty-five case-notes of patients who presented at the vitreo-retinal clinic of LUTH, Lagos between 2010 and 2015 were  retrieved and data obtained was analysed using the IBM Statistical Program for Social Sciences version 21.0. Results: More males 25(71.4%) than females 10(28.6%) were affected with a M: F ratio of 2.5:1. (Table 1). Most of the patients 29 (82.9%) with Proliferative Sickle Cell Retinopathy had the HbSC genotype. The commonest Posterior segment finding in the right eye was Vitreous Haemorrhage  seen in 15(42.9%) of patients. Sea-fan neovascularisation was commonly seen in the left eye in 12(34.3%) patients.