Thyroid Doppler indices in patients with sickle cell disease

Abstract Objective To evaluate the intrathyroidal hemodynamic changes and thyroidal volume in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Methods Thirty-two patients with homozygous SCD and 32 control subjects were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography. None of the patients and control subjects had clinical or laboratory evidence of thyroid disease. Results SCD patients had significantly higher resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values and lower thyroid volume compared with control group. Conclusion Increased intrathyroidal RI and PI and decreased thyroid volume may be due to impaired thyroidal microcirculation. Further and follow-up studies are needed to explain the relationship between Doppler parameters and thyroid functions.