Measurement of cerebrovascular flow reserve in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.

Purpose: To report a method for determining absolute percentage change in cerebral blood flow (measurement of cerebrovascular reserve) before and after acetylazolamide (Diamox) administration in children with sickle cell anemia.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six symptomatic sickle cell disease patients (48 studies) were evaluated. After the injection of either Tc-99m bicisate ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) or hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (HMPAO), both whole body scans (with geometric mean correction) and single photon emission computed tomography (CT) were performed pre- and post-Diamox administration with calculation of percentage brain uptake on the whole body images for both examinations and determination of cerebrovascular reserve (percentage change in brain uptake post-Diamox).