Hemodynamic Studies in Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

Hemodynamic studies were performed on 13 patients with sickle cell anemia utilizing the technique of venous catheterization. One case of secondary cor pulmonale and one case of concurrent rheumatic mitral disease is described. The cardiac index at rest in the 12 patients considered to be in a basal state ranged from 5.1 to 7.9 L/min./m2 BSA. There was no correlation between the resting cardiac output and the hemoglobin level. At rest, the percent O2 extracted by the peripheral tissues tended to vary inversely with the arterial O2 content, and the O2 transported to the tissues per minute. Nine of the 12 exercised patients experienced a normal increase in cardiac output, 1 of the 9 developing high output left ventricular failure during the exercise period. The mean resting arterial O2 saturation was 91.7% and was below normal values in 9 of the 13 patients. The mean arterial O2 saturation during exercise was 91.6%, 5 of the 12 patients experiencing a fall in saturation during exercise.