Sickle cell crisis
Background
- Sickle cell disease is the most common monogenetic disorder worldwisde affecting 30 million people
- disease can manifest with vaso-occlusion (pain), acute-chest syndrome, stroke, aplastic anemia, priapism, etc
Precipitating Factors
- For vaso-occlusion:
- cold weather
- hypoxia
- infection
- dehydration
- acidosis
- alcohol intoxication
- emotional stress
- pregnancy
- exertional stress
- Foraplastic crisis:
- parvovirus B19 infection
- folic acid deficiency
- For acute chest syndrome:
- fat embolus
- infection
- pain crisis
- asthma
Diagnosis
Insert
Work-Up
- CBC/STAT Hemaglobin-assess change in anemia
- Chem7/LFT/lipase-if abd pain, may develop cholecystitis, mesenteric ischemia, or perforation
- Retic-if aplastic crisis considered-rare in adults
- pCXR-if cough, sob, or febrile
- O2-if pain crisis, hypoxic , otherwise may inhibit erythopoesis
- ECG
- T&S/T&C
- BCx2
- ABG
- UA
- ICON
- Head CT/MRI if symptoms of stroke
DDx
- ACS
- anemia (acute, chronic)
- appendicitis
- cholecystitis
- cout
- hepatitis
- meningitis
- osteomyelitis
- pancreatitis
- PID
- pneumonia
- priapism
- pulmonary embolism/infarction
- rheumatic fever
- sepsis
- stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
- UTI
- URI
Treatment
- Abd Pain-Surgery if abdominla injury
- Aplastic Anemia-Exculde reverible causes and tranfuse for severe anemia (Hb <6-7)
- Pain crisis-IVF, pain meds, O2 if hypoxic
- Priapism-pain meds, exchange tranfusion before surgery, urology consult
- Acute chest syndrome-admit if infiltrate, treat pain and give IV Abx
- Sepsis-admit
- Sickle cell stroke-Head CT +/- LP, IVF, keep HbS <30% total blood vol
Disposition
- Admission if:
- Acute Chest Syndrome-pain/pulmonary infiltrates from infection or pulm infarct
- Stroke, priapism, serious bacterial infection, aplastic crisis, hypoxia, acidosis
- Unable to take fluids orally or inadequate pain control, abnormal vital signs
- Consider if pregnant (in crisis), or uncertain dx of SCD
See Also
Acute Chest Syndrome
Source
DONALDSON 6/07
SOTELO 10/09
TUNG 7/10
