Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T20:38:24.648Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Headache and Scalp Edema in Sickle Cell Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Giovanna Pari  and
Hyman M. Schipper
Giovanna Pari
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal
Hyman M. Schipper*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal
*
Department of Neurology, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote St. Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T1E2
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Background: Major neurological complications of sickle cell disease include cerebral infarction and intracranial hemorrhages. Methods: We describe the case of a 25-year-old man with sickle cell disease who developed a severe headache of acute onset, located at the vertex. There was associated pitting edema of the scalp. Results: Technetium and gallium bone imaging showed focal decreased uptake of the tracers, consistent with a recent fronto-parietal skull infarction. Management included intravenous hydration and analgesic medication. Conclusions: In addition to the more common intracranial vaso-occlusive complications, skull infarction should be considered as a cause of new-onset headache in patients with sickle cell disease, especially if scalp edema is present.

Résumé

Résumé

Anémie falciforme: céphalée et oedème du cuir chevelu. Introduction: Les infarctus cérébraux et les hémorragies intracrâniennes constituent les principales complications neurologiques de l’anémie falciforme. Méthodes: Nous présentons le cas d’un homme de 25 ans avec anémie falciforme qui a développé une céphalée intense, d’apparition soudaine, localisée au vertex ainsi qu’un oedème local. Résultats: Des scintigraphies au technetium et au gallium ont démotré une hypcaptation de la région du vertex, suggérant la présence d’un infarctus du crâne. Le traitement a consisté en une hydration par voie intraveineuse et une analgésie. Conclusions: Nous concluons que l’infarctus crânien doit être considéré dans le diagnotic différentiel des céphalées aiguës chez les patients avec anémie falciforme, en particulier s’il y a un oedème du cuir chevelu.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , August 1996 , pp. 224 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1996

References

1. Portnoy, BA., Herion, JC. Neurological manifestations in sickle-cell disease. Ann Intern Med 1972; 76: 643–652.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Adams, RJ. Neurologic complications. In: Embury, SH., Hebbel, RP., Mohandas, N., Steinberg, MH., ed. Sickle Cell Disease: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice. New York: Raven Press, 1994; 599–621.Google Scholar
3. Powars, D., Wilson, B., Imbers, C., Pegelow, C., Allen, J. The natural history of stroke in sickle cell disease. Am J Med 1978; 65: 461–471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Blank, JP. and Gill, FM. Orbital infarction in sickle cell disease. Pediatrics 1981; 67: 879–881.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Serjeant, GR., Ceulaer, CDE., Lethbridge, R., et al. The painful crisis of homozygous sickle cell disease: clinical features. Br J Haematol 1994; 87: 586–591.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Burke, TS., Tatum, JL., Fratkin, MJ., Baker, K. Radionuclide bone imaging findings in recurrent calvarial infarction in sickle cell disease. J Nucl Med 1988; 29: 411–413.Google ScholarPubMed
7. Serjeant, GR. Sickle Cell Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985; 168–195.Google ScholarPubMed
8. Garty, I., Koren, A., Katzumi, E. Uncommon sites of bone infarction in a sickle cell anemia patient. Eur J Nucl Med 1983; 8: 367–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Oyesiku, NM., Barrow, DL., Eckman, JR., Tindall, SC., Colohan, ART. Intracranial aneurysms in sickle-cell anemia: clinical features and pathogenesis. J Neurosurg 1991; 75: 356–363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Anson, JA., Koshy, M., Ferguson, L., Crowell, RM. Subarachnoid hemorrhage in sickle-cell disease. J Neurosurg 1991; 75: 552–558.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Ohene-Frempong, K. Stroke in sickle cell disease: demographic, clinical, and therapeutic considerations. Semin Hematol 1991; 28: 213–219.Google ScholarPubMed