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Sickle cell crisis

Prevalence
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Prognosis

Watch out for strokes - usually haemorrhagic in adulthood d 
Further strokes and death are common.

Note:

  • 5% of patients have a stroke b
  • A third die b
  • Two-thirds have another within the next 9 years. b

Patients with Hb-SS are at increased risk. b

Why?

Hb-SS increases the risk of stroke

    Outcome b Risk Factor PEERr OR
    (95% CI)    		 NNH
    (95% CI)
    stroke
    		Hb-SS
    independent     		5% 5.6
    (1.3 to 24)    		 16
    (4 to 790)

 

Expiry date: May 2004
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author    CM  Ball, RS Phillips
Reviewer   G   Serjeant
CAT Writer     CM  Ball, N  Shenker