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.

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