The Nervous System in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Summary. The various neurological manifestations encountered in thirty-three Nigerians out of a total of 257 with homozygous (SS) sickle cell disease were described. These included mental changes, disturbance of consciousness, convulsions, meningism, cranial nerve palsies, cerebrovascular accidents and parapareses. The high incidence of meningitis, particularly pneumococcal meningitis, was noted. Intracranial haemorrhage and dural sinus thrombosis carried poor prognosis. Cerebral angiography demonstrated occlusion of a major cerebral artery in one case, and pneumoencephalography showed internal hydrocephalus in two other cases. The literature on the involvement of the nervous system in sickle cell disease was briefly reviewed.