Sickle Cell Diseases May Show Terminal Consequences of the Metabolic Syndrome in Much Earlier Ages

Background: Sickle cell diseases (SCDs) are severe inflammatory processes on vascular endothelium, particularly at the capillary level since the capillary system is the main distributor of hardened red blood cells (RBCs) into the tissues. Methods: All patients with SCDs were included. Results: The study included 222 males and 212 females with similar ages (30.8 vs 30.3 years, p>0.05, respectively). Disseminated teeth losses (5.4% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), ileus (7.2% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), cirrhosis (8.1% vs 1.8%, p<0.001), leg ulcers (19.8% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), digital clubbing (14.8% vs 6.6%, p<0.001), coronary heart disease (18.0% vs 13.2%, p<0.05), chronic renal disease (9.9% vs 6.1%, p<0.05), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (25.2% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), and stroke (12.1% vs 7.5%, p<0.05) were all higher, but not acute chest syndrome (2.7% vs 3.7%), pulmonary hypertension (12.6% vs 11.7), deep venous thrombosis and/or varices and/or telangiectasias (9.0% vs 6.6%), and mean age of mortality (30.2 vs 33.3 years) in males (p>0.05 for all).