Table 1 Characteristics of the studied patients with sickle cell disease

Age (year); mean ± SD

15.68 ± 7.02

Male: female, n (%)

35 (53.0%): 31 (47.0%)

Positive family history of SCD, n (%)

43 (65.2%)

Clinical characteristics

Splenectomized, n (%)

13 (20.0%)

Number of sickle crisis/year; median (IQR)

4 (2–8)

Sickle crisis ≥ 3/year, n (%)

35 (54.7%)

History of silent or manifest stroke, n (%)

9 (14.1%)

History of acute chest syndrome, n (%)

12 (18.8%)

Cardiopulmonary complications, n (%)

10 (15.6%)

Transfusion index (mL/kg/year)

120 (60–240)

Iron overload per day (mg/kg); mean ± SD

0.23 ± 0.15

On chelation therapy, n (%)

53 (80.3%)

Poor compliance to chelation, n (%)

21 (42.0%)

Laboratory characteristics

Pre-transfusion hemoglobin (g/dL); mean ± SD

8.03 ± 1.42

HbS (%); mean ± SD

61.33 ± 20.70

HbF (%); median (IQR)

4.7 (1.3–12.2)

Serum amylase (U/L); mean ± SD

56.73 ± 21.43

Serum ferritin (ug/L); median (IQR)

2805 (median 940–4638)

 Serum ferritin level > 2500; n (%)

33 (50%)

Radiological characteristics

LIC (mg/g liver dry weight); median (IQR)

11.63 (5.81–20.31)

 Normal; n (%)

7 (10.6%)

 Mild; n (%)

16 (24.2%)

 Moderate; n (%)

24 (36.4%)

 Severe; n (%)

19 (28.8%)

Cardiac T2* (msec); mean ± SD

31.40 ± 6.58

 Normal; n (%)

66 (100%)

Pancreatic MRI (msec); median (IQR)

53.80 (35.35–84.45)

 Normal; n (%)

14 (21.2%)

 Mild; n (%)

43 (65.1%)

 Moderate; n (%)

8 (12.1%)

 Severe; n (%)

1 (1.6%)