Sickle cell disease subphenotypes in patients from Southwestern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is common in the Eastern and Southwestern (SW) Provinces of Saudi Arabia. We studied 159 patients with SCD to better characterize its phenotype in the SW Province, where patients usually have a HBB haplotype of African origin. All cases had history and examination, chart review, and laboratory testing.

Hematologic risk factors for stroke in Saudi children.

Objective: To explore the hematologic risk factors for stroke in a cohort of Saudi children.

Methods: We evaluated children at the Division of Pediatric Neurology at King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, during the periods July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study). Investigations for suspected cases included neuroimaging, transcranial Doppler (TCD) for cases of sickle cell disease (SCD), and Duplex scan.

Stroke in Saudi children. Epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of stroke in a prospective and retrospective cohort of Saudi children and ascertain the causes, pathogenesis, and risk factors.

Methods: The Retrospective Study Group (RSG) included children with stroke who were evaluated at the Division of Pediatric Neurology, or admitted to King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period July 1992 to February 2001. The Prospective Study Group (PSG) included those seen between February 2001 and March 2003.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: The treatment of choice for cholelithiasis in infancy and childhood.

Twelve consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) were performed between January 1994 and October 1996 at King Khalid University Hospital. In all patients the indication for cholecystectomy was symptomatic gallstones. Among the 12 children, six had sickle cell disease.