State Of The Art Functional Imaging In Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a serious blood disease with blood vessel changes leading to brain injury and stroke. Studies show about 11% of patients with SCA will develop obvious stroke before age 20 years, with children less than 10 years of age especially vulnerable. The main objective of the SCDMR4\[State Of The Art Functional Imaging In Sickle Cell Disease\] trial is to compare the gray matter cerebral blood flow, measured by MRI,\[magnetic resonance imaging\] ASL \[Arterial Spin Labeling\] perfusion before treatment begins and after the appropriate hydroxyurea dosage is reached (\~ one year). Other important objectives of the SCDMR4 trial include describing the effect of hydroxyurea therapy and transfusion therapy on the functional MRI response, diffusion tensor imaging of white matter, brain function, and transcranial Doppler blood velocities.