Evidence-based On-call

Sickle cell crisis

Prognosis

Acute chest syndrome can progress to chronic lung disease, which is often fatal. ^b

Note:

Patients with frequent acute chest syndromes or aseptic necrosis aged > 20 at increased risk of developing chronic lung disease ^b
Patients with sickle cell anaemia who have chronic lung disease are at a greatly increased risk of dying (NNH = 2 at 17 years) ^b