Jacques A. Bazeboso1 ,Didier Mbuyi Mukendi2, Cisse´-Luc Mbongo3, Wilfrid Mbombo4, Michel Lelo Tshikwela5, Antoine Molua5, Benjamin Longo6, Le´on Tshilolo7, Jose´ I. Bilbao8
Received: 28 November 2023 / Accepted: 28 February 2024
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe
(CIRSE) 2024
Abstract
Purpose To assess the safety and efficacy of partial splenic embolization (PSE) to reduce the need of transfusions and
improve hematologic parameters in patients with hypersplenism and sickle cell disease (SCD).
Material and Methods This prospective study includes 35 homozygous hemoglobin S patients with SCD and hypersplenism
who underwent PSE from 2015 until 2021 in Kinshasa. Patients were evaluated, before and after PSE (1, 3 and 6 months), using clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic
methods. PSE was performed with the administration of gelatin sponge particles embolizing 60–70% of the splenic parenchyma. Results The mean age was 10 (± 4) years and (21/35, 60%) were male. After PSE Leucocytes decreased at 3
months (16 692.94 vs 13 582.86, p = 0.02) and at six months Erythrocytes increased 2 004 000 vs. 2 804 142
(p\0.001), Platelets increased (168 147 vs. 308 445, p\0.001) and Hemoglobin increased (5.05 g/dL vs.
6.31 g/dL, p\0.001) There was a significant dicrease in the need of transfusions from 6 (2–20) before PSE to 0.06
(0–1) after PSE (p\0.001). The most frequent complication was splenic rupture (4/35, 11.4%), seen only and in
all patients with hypoechogenic nodules at baseline.
Conclusion PSE is a safe procedure in patients with SCD and hypersplenism, that do not have hypoechogenic nodules
in the spleen. PSE improves the hematological parameters and reduces the frequency of blood transfusions.
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-024-03701-4