Bibliographic information
GuidelineWHO consolidated guidelines for the management of common childhood illness: management of sickle-cell disease in children and adolescents
Year of Publication2026
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
New
In children and adolescents (aged 0–19 years) with sickle-cell disease (SCD) who have no symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, routine echocardiogram screening to detect pulmonary hypertension is not suggested.
Recommended against
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Low
Notes and Remarks
- Echocardiography may be appropriate in the presence of clinical signs or symptoms suggestive of pulmonary hypertension, such as persistent respiratory distress, recurrent hypoxaemia, chest pain at rest or with exertion, or other indicators of cardiopulmonary compromise.
- This recommendation reflects the limited evidence supporting the clinical utility of routine echocardiographic screening in asymptomatic individuals and the potential for unnecessary follow-up testing or interventions without proven benefit.