Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
Crises in Sickle Cell Disease
source: CHEST
year: 2016
authors: Novelli EM, Gladwin MT
summary/abstract:In spite of significant strides in the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD), SCD crises are still responsible for high morbidity and early mortality. While most patients initially seek care in the acute setting for a seemingly uncomplicated pain episode (pain crisis or vaso-occlusive crisis), this initial event is the primary risk factor for potentially life-threatening complications. The pathophysiological basis of these illnesses is end-organ ischemia and infarction combined with the downstream effects of hemolysis that results from red blood cell sickling. These pathological changes can occur acutely and lead to a dramatic clinical presentation, but are frequently superimposed over a milieu of chronic vasculopathy, immune dysregulation, and decreased functional reserve. In the lungs, acute chest syndrome is a particularly ominous lung injury syndrome with a complex pathogenesis and potentially devastating sequelae, but all organ systems can be affected. It is, therefore, critical to understand the SCD patients’ susceptibility to acute complications and their risk factors so that they can be recognized promptly and managed effectively. Blood transfusions remain the mainstay of therapy for all severe acute crises. Recommendations and indications for the safest and most efficient implementation of transfusion strategies in the critical care setting are therefore presented and discussed, together with their pitfalls and potential future therapeutic alternatives. In particular, the importance of extended phenotypic red blood cell matching cannot be overemphasized, due to the high prevalence of severe complications from red cell alloimmunization in SCD.
organization: University of Pittsburgh; University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineDOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2015.12.016
read more full text
Related Content
-
Prevalence and correlates of growth failure in african patients with sickle cell disease: A multinational studyGrowth failure has been a well-known com...
-
Podcast: How New Gene Therapies for SCD May Impact Women’s FertilityAs we closed 2023, the Food and Drug Ad...
-
Safety and early hints of benefit seen in phase 1b trial of PF-04447943Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients were ...
-
Study Confirms Safe Use of Opioids for Pain Control in Sickle Cell DiseaseThe most common cause of hospital admiss...
-
SUSTAIN Clinical Trial Results Show Crizanlizumab Reduced Sickle Cell–Related Pain CrisesResults from the Phase 2 SUSTAIN clinica...
-
Toronto Neuroscientist Getting Closer to Tailored Treatments for Chronic PainDaily tasks most people don't think too ...
-
Study challenges view that sickle cell trait increases mortality riskSurprising findings from a study of heal...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.