Factors Associated With Dyspnea in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the cardiorespiratory factors associated with dyspnea in patients with sickle cell SS-hemoglobin disease, with a specific interest in lung vascular involvement. Measurements: Forty-nine patients (29 women and 20 men; mean [± SD] age: women, 29 ± 6 years; men, 31 ± 11 years) underwent direct evaluations (Borg scale evaluation during a 6-min walk test) and indirect evaluations (modified Medical Research Council [MRC]score) of their dyspnea, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) [spirometry, volumes, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco), diffusing capacity of the alveolar-capillary membrane, and pulmonary capillary blood volume measurements], echocardiography, and biological evaluation. Results: Thirty-four patients complained of significant breathlessness (MRC score, > 1). Indirect and direct evaluations of dyspnea were correlated. PFT results depicted a very mild restrictive pattern (mean total pulmonary capacity, 86 ± 11% predicted) and an impairment of Dlco(mean Dlcocorrected for the degree of anemia, 69 ± 13% predicted). The statistical analysis demonstrated that dyspnea and exercise performance were closely linked to indexes of Dlcobut not with any echocardiographic or biological measure including anemia. Nevertheless, only approximately 25% of the variability was explained by these associations. Despite having a similar history of vasoocclusive crisis events, women had more severe anemia, dyspnea, decreases in Dlco(corrected for the degree of anemia), and a higher capillary blood volume (corrected for alveolar volume) than men. Conclusion: Lung vascular disease contributes to dyspnea and the exercise limitation of patients with sickle cell disease. A sequential assessment of Dlcowould therefore constitute one of the objective functional end points for follow-up studies of these patients.