American journal of hematology
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CNS infarction is a devastating complication in sickle cell anemia. Episodes are frequently repetitive and often result in permanent neurologic abnormalities. In an attempt to prevent such recurrences a periodic transfusion program was begun at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in 1969. ⋯ One child who was not brought in regularly had recurrent CNS infarction. The only recognized complication has been one instance of serum hepatitis. While such a transfusion program is not without risk, it seems an effective way of preventing progression of neurologic abnormalities resulting from recurrent CNS infarction in sickle cell anemia.