Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Adult Sickle Cell Anemia: a Frequent Hemolysis Associated Feature

Background And Objectives: Sickle cell anemia-associated nephropathy is a growing matter of concern because renal failure affects most aging sickle cell anemia patients. Glomerular damage is a common feature revealed by a microalbuminuria or a macroalbuminuria. Although glomerular hyperfiltration has been described for decades in this population, its prevalence in young adults is unknown.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: To address this issue, as well as the clinical and biologic correlates of hyperfiltration, a single-center, cross-sectional study of 280 homozygous SS disease patients was performed.

Results: The prevalence of hyperfiltration assessed by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated GFR was 51%. Among patients with hyperfiltration, 49% had hyperfiltration alone, whereas 36% and 15% had an associated microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria, respectively. Estimated GFR sensitivity and specificity for hyperfiltration were 94% and 63%, respectively, in a selected subgroup of 48 patients (measured GFR was assessed by urinary (51)Cr EDTA clearance). In patients with no albuminuria, hyperfiltration status was significantly associated with a young age (years), the absence of alpha thalassemia, a lower hemoglobin level (g/dl), and a lower fetal hemoglobin. The role of chronic hemolysis was further strengthened by multivariate analysis showing a correlation between estimated GFR and a low plasma fetal hemoglobin level, a young age, and a high reticulocyte count (r(2) = 0.54).

Conclusions: Together, the data suggest that the pathophysiology of hyperfiltration would rather be attributable to the hemolysis-associated vasculopathy rather than a viscosity-vaso-occlusive process.