Abstract:
Vasculopathy is a hallmark of sickle cell disease ultimately resulting in chronic end organ damage. Leg ulcer is one of its
sequelae, occurring in ~ 5–10% of adult sickle cell patients. The majority of leg ulcer publications to date have emanated from
single center cohort studies. As such, there are limited studies on the geographic distribution of leg ulcers and associated risk
factors worldwide. The Consortium for the Advancement of Sickle Cell Research (CASiRe) was formed to improve the
understanding of the different phenotypes of sickle cell disease patients living in different geographic locations around the world
(USA, UK, Italy, Ghana). This cross-sectional cohort sub-study of 659 sickle cell patients aimed to determine the geographic
distribution and risk factors associated with leg ulcers. The prevalence of leg ulcers was 10.3%and was associated with older age,
SS genotype, male gender, and Ghanaian origin. In fact, the highest prevalence (18.6%) was observed in Ghana. Albuminuria,
proteinuria, increased markers of hemolysis (lower hemoglobin, higher total bilirubin), lower oxygen saturation, and lower body
