Evidence-based On-call

Sickle cell crisis

Prevalence
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis

Prevalence

Many patients are regular attenders ^b

- contact their regular physician and ask how they are normally treated ^d

Note:

30% of patients with sickle cell disease are admitted to hospital each year ^c , but a third of all the crises happen in 5% of patients ^b
Genotype is important: patients with SS anaemia and S-beta ⁰ thalassaemia are more likely to have crises than others. ^c