Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy that is considered a relatively rare disease in the United States, affecting about 90,000-100,000 individuals.
Globally, SCD affects millions, primarily in West and Central Africa.
Acute presentations of SCD include:
Acute Pain (Sickle Cell or Vaso-occlusive) Crisis
Most common presentation in emergency departments
Severe Anemia
Splenic sequestration crisis
Aplastic crisis
Hemolytic crisis
Infections
Particularly from encapsulated organisms because of a damaged spleen (functional asplenia)
Acute Chest Syndrome
From damaged lung tissues leading to hypoxia
A leading cause of death for patients SCD
Stroke
Priapism
Other organ dysfunction including kidney failure and eye problems (retinopathy)
The bottom line:
Sickle Cell Disease is a serious, painful and potentially life threatening disease that can cause major damage to multiple organ systems.
