1. Comprehensive Care Model: A Model for Sickle Cell Disease Management
Dr Doreen Karimi Mutua
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital

2. Outline History Status of Sickle Cell Disease Care
Rationale of Comprehensive Care in Sickle Cell Disease
Landmark studies
Components of Comprehensive Sickle cell Care
Action Plan for Kenya
Summary

3. It’s 100 years already!!

4. From the Forefathers of Medicine: Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.E.)
“Another sickness of the spleen. It comes on mainly in the springtime and is caused by the blood. The spleen becomes engorged with blood, which evacuates into the stomach. Shooting pains in the spleen, the breast, the clavicle, the shoulder, and beneath the shoulder blade. The body’s coloration resembles lead. Sores form on the leg and become large ulcerations. The discharges with the feces are bloody and bluish green. The belly hardens and the spleen is like a stone. This one is more murderous than the one before, and few survive it.”

5. Sickle Cell disease (SCD)
SCD is the commonest haemoglobinopathy in the world
There are about 300,000 children born with SCD every year, 70-75% are in Africa
Estimated life expectancy for SCD in high income countries is 45-50years but in low and Medium income countries more than 50 % of these children die before their 5th birthday
70% of the deaths in SCD are preventable
Challenges:  Lack of basic facilities to manage patients, absence of systemic screening for SCD, poor research, documentation, and intervention protocols
Hsu L, Nnodu OE et al. White Paper: Pathways to Progress in Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. J Trop Dis Public Heath. 2018;6(2):260
Wastnedge E, Waters D, Patel S.The global burden of sickle cell disease in children under five years of age: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health Dec;8(2):021103

6. Rationale of Comprehensive SCD care
Comprehensive care plan has led to a marked increase in survival for children with SCD
It is now rare for children with SCD to die in developed countries, with a reported survival into adulthood of 94% in the United States and up to 99% in England
The 59th World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2006, identified SCD as a significant public health problem in Africa that may contribute to up to 16% of under-5 mortality in some countries
WHA resolution urged African nations with high burdens of SCD to design and implement national SCD programs with a focus on
Widespread awareness-raising
Early identification by Newborn screening(NBS)
Early access to adequate preventative care, and training of medical professionals on SCD
June 19th as World Sickle Cell Day: the United Nations issued a call for action among African nations to address the unmet burden of SCD

7. Land mark studies: Natural History of SCD
Cooperative Study on Sickle Cell Disease(CSSD)
Natural history of SCD
Newborn cohort- majority of deaths occurring in the first six months of life
Major events in children: infections, anemia
Increased Hb F associated with mild disease
50% of adults died before 5th decade: acute pain, acute chest syndrome, stroke
Hydroxyurea use reduces pain episode by 45%, acute chest syndrome by 44% and blood transfusion by 30%

8. Land mark studies: Penicillin prophylaxis
Prophylatic Penicillin Study(PROPS)
Despite universal coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine, Streptococcal infections significantly caused morbidity and mortality until Penicillin prophylaxis was introduced

9. Land mark studies: Hydroxyurea use in children
Ped- HUG trial
Baby- HUG trial
 lower rates of initial and recurrent episodes of pain, dactylitis, acute chest syndrome, and hospitalization, Reduction in hemolysis, Increased Hb F,
Reversible and predictable adverse effects of Hydroxyurea
Beneficial effects on splenic function preservation
?effect on proteinuria, hypoxemia
No safety concerns

10. Land mark studies: Stroke in Sickle Cell Disease
Chronic transfusion in primary and secondary stroke prevention
STOP Trials
SWiTCH trial
TWITCH
Chronic transfusion and chelation therapy superior to Hydroxyurea/phlebotomy in stroke prevention
Hydroxyurea is effective in stroke prevention in patients with abnormal transcranial ultrasound velocity

11. Land mark studies: Hydroxyurea safe and effective for sickle cell anemia in African children
REACH trial (Kenya amongst 4 countries involved)
 Among sub-Saharan African children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) treated with hydroxyurea, 5.1% experienced dose-limiting toxic events, well below the protocol-specified allowable rate of 30%.
Compared to pretreatment rates, children treated with hydroxyurea had significantly reduced rates of vaso-occlusive pain, infection, malaria, transfusion, and death after one year.

12. Components of Comprehensive Care Model
Newborn screening
Prophylactic Penicillin Prophylaxis
Health Education to Families
Nutritional support
Psychosocial support
Immunization practices
Comprehensive Care SCD
Malaria infection prevention
Management of acute complications
Screening for Chronic organ damage
Hydroxyurea use

14. Where do we begin?
Kenya is listed amongst the countries with high burden for SCD
It has been shown that Newborn screening and link to comprehensive care centers is cost effective
Early introduction of penicillin prophylaxis
Health education to families during the patient visits
Immunization program already active
Ensure availability of Hydroxyurea
Ensure availability of pain medication and safe blood products
Establish multidisciplinary care
Establish guidelines on chronic organ damage screening: Urinalysis, Transcranial Doppler, Ophthalmology reviews, Iron overload screening, Echocardiography

15. Summary
Children with SCD have the potential to live and let live with decreased morbidity and mortality
This requires an adoption and commitment to comprehensive care approach to their management
Lets hear a word from the Kenya Sickle Cell Foundation Chair!
Thank You!