INTERNATIONAL NEUROVASCULAR TRAINING COURSE ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Dear colleagues,
we are pleased to announce that an International Neurovascular Training Course on Sickle Cell Disease will take place in Padua, on March 30-31, 2023.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the world’s most prevalent genetic diseases, and due to the impact on the geographical distribution of the HbS allele, SCD has become a global public health issue. Children with SCD frequently harbor steno-occlusive lesions in large cerebral arteries and microangiopathic lesions, causing ischemic stroke and silent infarcts that impact on neurocognitive development and quality of life. Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) is the gold standard to assess blood flow velocities in the vessels of the Circle of Willis in SCD patients and predict the risk of stroke. Hence, TCD is highly recommended as a routine screening tool to guide treatment: exchange transfusions, hydroxyurea, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, recently approved drugs and new therapeutic options (gene therapy, gene editing). Yet, access to TCD services remains a challenge, not only due to funding, but also due to a lack of skills and knowledge, particularly with respect to adequately trained TCD operators. For this reason, education must be intensified: this International Neurovascular Training Course on SCD will feature state-of-the-art presentations, combined with intensive transcranial ultrasound workshops and clinical case-based discussion. We do hope that by sharing knowledge and experience, all participants will ultimately bring a benefit to their SCD communities.
We look forward to welcoming you in the beautiful botanical garden of Padua.
Raffaella Colombatti Claudio Baracchini