H-shaped vertebrae are associated with which disease?

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Multiple Choice

H-shaped vertebrae are associated with which disease?

Vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease cause bone infarcts, especially at the vertebral endplates. Recurrent ischemia damages the central portion of the vertebral endplates while the peripheral ring remains, producing a vertebral body that takes on the characteristic H-shaped appearance on X-ray. This pattern is a classic radiographic sign linked to sickle cell disease, reflecting repeated infarction in the growing spine. Other conditions listed don’t typically produce this endplate infarction pattern: congenital syphilis affects bones differently, thalassemia more often shows marrow expansion and skull changes, and hemophilia centers on bleeding into joints rather than vertebral endplate infarcts.

Vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease cause bone infarcts, especially at the vertebral endplates. Recurrent ischemia damages the central portion of the vertebral endplates while the peripheral ring remains, producing a vertebral body that takes on the characteristic H-shaped appearance on X-ray. This pattern is a classic radiographic sign linked to sickle cell disease, reflecting repeated infarction in the growing spine.

Other conditions listed don’t typically produce this endplate infarction pattern: congenital syphilis affects bones differently, thalassemia more often shows marrow expansion and skull changes, and hemophilia centers on bleeding into joints rather than vertebral endplate infarcts.

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