Stéphanie Forté: New Insights on Stroke in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease
Stéphanie Forté, Medical Lead of the Red Blood Cell Disorders Comprehensive Centre (SANGRE) at CHUM, shared a post on LinkedIn about a recent article she and her colleagues co-authored, published in The British Journal of Haematology, adding:
“Stroke and Sickle Cell Disease: A Montreal Study Highlights Lasting Impacts in Adults
The British Journal of Haematology publishes a study led by our team at University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM), the CHUM Research Centre, and the University of Montreal, shedding light on an underrecognized reality: stroke in adults living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that primarily affects individuals of African and Caribbean descent.
While stroke risk is well established in children, much less is known about its impact in adults.
In a cohort of 454 adults followed at CHUM, we found that nearly 1 in 20 had experienced a stroke.
Importantly, these events were not limited to the most severe genotypes, but also occurred in forms often perceived as ‘milder.’
The consequences are often long-lasting:
- cognitive impairment (memory and attention)
- reduced functional independence
This work reflects a strong multidisciplinary collaboration between researchers in hematology, vascular neurology (ICranium), and highly engaged trainees.
Special recognition to Jonathan St-Onge, future hematology resident at Université de Montréal, for his teamwork, perseverance, and dedication to advancing care and research.
‘Sickle cell disease is a lifelong condition, and its neurological complications in adulthood remain underrecognized and require greater attention.’
Our findings highlight the need for:
- improved stroke prevention strategies in SCD
- early recognition of neurological symptoms
- specialized, structured care for adults
This work also contributes to a broader effort to address health inequities — a key focus of Black History Month.”
Title: Stroke burden and functional impacts in adults with sickle cell disease
Authors: Jonathan St-Onge, Tzvetena Hristova, Chrystelle Charles, Olena Bereznyakova, Gregory Jacquin, Olivier Pouliot, Janick Caron-Lecuyer, Mia Stevanovik, Sara-Maude Desforges, Costa M. Kazadi, Julian Alejandro Rivillas, Christian Stapf, Stéphanie Forté
Read the Full Article on The British Journal of Haematology
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