Vaso-occlusive events are moments of severe pain common in sickle cell patients; it is a result of the adhesion of cells to the endothelial lining. While leukocytes play a role in vaso-occlusive events, erythrocyte activity plays an even bigger role. It was discovered that the receptors on the erythrocytes and the endothelial cell were responsible for the mediation of the adhesion of erythrocytes to the endothelial lining (Stuart; Nagel, 2004). The adhesions of these cells to the cell wall is what leads to inflammatory disease, and certain types of acute chest syndrome. Vaso-occlusive events are common in sickle cell patients, but they are not the leading cause of death. Acute chest syndrome takes that spot. Acute chest syndrome is …show more content…
Acute chest syndrome has been studied extensively in the past due to two reasons. First, it is the leading cause of death in patients with sickle cell disease. Secondly, there is not optimal treatment for acute chest syndrome. This is because there are so many factors that can cause it. Pulmonary fat embolism can cause acute chest syndrome, but so can viral infections, bacterial infections, and mixed infections (Vichinsky, 2000). While there are so many causes of acute chest syndrome, the most noticeable was pulmonary fat embolism, which account for 8.8% of all acute chest syndrome occurrences (Vichinsky, 2000). On table 4, you can see each disease that caused the onset of acute chest syndrome, and how many people it affected.
To properly treat patients with sickle cell disease who are suffering from acute chest syndrome, multiple precautions must be taken into account. First, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be administered due to the high chance that it is caused by a bacterial infection. Secondly, airway hyperreactivity should be assumed and checked for even if wheezing or coughing is not present. Thirdly, if possible, patients who suffer from anemia should seek blood transfusions before the onset of respiratory distress. Lastly, if the patient sees no improvement, they may be treated with alternative drugs such as nitric oxide or hydroxyurea, but this is only in severe cases.
As previously stated,
Complications of sickle cell anemia are pain crisis, infection, acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration, vision loss, leg ulcers, stroke, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Pain crisis is a feeling of pain that can happen all of the sudden with mild to severe intensity and last for a period of time (“Facts About Sickle Cell Disease,” 2016). Serious bacterial infections are potential life threatening due to the damage to the spleen in some people who have sickle cell anemia (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/signs). Acute chest syndrome can be life threatening and symptoms included chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever. Splenic sequestration is can be life threatening
Sickle Cell Disease or also widely known as Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic mutation caused in red blood cells destroys its own cells within and reshaping the cell wall resembling crescent or sickle shape; getting its name of the sickle cell disease. These sickled shaped cells attempt to perform its normal function of circulating oxygenated and deoxygenated RBC and gets lodged in small vessels causing vaso-occlusion. Where vaso-occlusive take effect, rest of the body is not receiving oxygen becoming oxygen deprived results in acute and chronic pain and organ damage (Valerie Mann-Jiles, 2015). This disease a lifelong condition affecting not just the person carrying the disease but the whole family. Treating this disease
Sickle Cell Anemia or Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a passed down blood disorder that attacks and destroys the red blood cells. This Disease was first discovered back in 1910. The disease was first described as a clinical entity by Herrick1 in 1910 (Anderson & Ware 1932). Sickle cell sickness is brought about by a change in the hemoglobin-Beta quality found on chromosome 11. Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body. Red platelets with typical (hemoglobin-An) are smooth and round and coast through veins. Typical red platelets are round like doughnuts, and they travel through little blood tubes in the body to convey oxygen. Sickle red platelets turn out to be hard, sticky and molded like sickles used to cut wheat. At times these blood cells can become crescent shaped and have a hard time passing through small blood vessels, this keeps red blood cells and the oxygen they carry from getting to all parts of the body. This causes less blood to reach the body at this point the tissues that have not received a normal blood flow will become damaged. Individuals who have sickle cell
Sickle cell anemia is one of the disease out there in the world that cannot be cured. The only thing people suffering from sickle cell can do is get treatments for the symptoms they are suffering from. Not only are there treatments, but there are also things that can be done that can prevent some of the symptoms. Some of the treatments available are different kinds of medications, vaccines, and experimental treatments. When a child suffers from sickle anemia their life could be put on line when catching an infection that may not be life threating to some who may not have that disease, so it is important for children to take antibiotics. From the antibiotics a person can take painkillers to relieve the suffer pain. A drug that is
Sickle cell anaemia is most often treated with blood transfusions in the UK, where the blood volume is replaced by healthy donor blood. This provides short term treatment for sickle cell anaemia patients, giving them healthy red blood cells that distribute oxygen around the body well due to their normal haemoglobin content. However the patient 's stem cells in their bone marrow continue to make new, sickle red blood cells as the donor cells begin to die meaning eventually the defective cells will once again be in the blood causing symptoms. This means that blood transfusions are needed regularly which can have an impact on both the hospital and the patient. There are both advantages and disadvantages for regular blood transfusions as treatment for sickle cell anaemia.
Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder in which red blood cells take on an abnormal shape. Sickle cell anemia is when the red blood cells hemolyze, or die. Sickle cell disease is inherited from generation to generation and is the most common in inherited blood disorders. An estimated 70,000-100,000 people in America are currently suffering from this disease, most of which are African Americans. One is diagnosed with sickle cell disease in early childhood generally around four months old when the signs and symptoms are presented. Because of its huge impact, the United States requires all newborns to be tested for this disease. [1] Sickle cell disease is known to affect, “approximately 1 in every 400-500 African American
The main goal for treating sickle cell anemia is to help prevent and reduce pain, and to help prevent infections. Other treatments help prevent any organ damage and strokes related to sickle cell anemia causes. To prevent pain, those with more severe conditions use hydroxyurea, a medicine that helps prevent painful crises, not to help when they occur. Mild pain can usually be treated with over the counter medication. More severe pain episodes need hospitalization. Bacterial infections can be a very serious complication for those with sickle cell anemia. To prevent infections in children and babies, doses of penicillin are needed, and all routine vaccinations. Many of the other symptoms and complications of sickle cell anemia are treated with blood transfusions. Blood is taken from a healthy individual and the red blood cells are thus transfused into the individual with sickle cell anemia.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited and noncontagious, lifelong condition. More specifically, per Ohaeri, Shokunbi, Akinlade, & Dare, 1995, SCD is a generic term for a group of genetic disorders characterized by the predominance of sickle cell hemoglobin (Hgb). Hemoglobin is a protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. The disease produces significantly abnormal Hgb molecules in red blood cells (RBCs). In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky and are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body (Ohaeri, Shokunbi, Akinlade, & Dare, 1995, p. 955.Individuals
This is a 3-years-old African American male, who presented to the Pediatric Comprehensive Hemoglobinopathy clinic at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital on 01/25/2017 for a routine follow up visit accompanied by his father. M.H. was diagnosed with Homozygous SS Sickle Cell Disease since birth. Since, his last clinic visit on 7/28/2016, M.H. has been admitted for partial splenectomy in 8/23/2016. Then, in 12/23/2016 his parents brought him to the emergency department in henry ford hospital for mild rhinorrhea, occasional productive cough, temperature of 99 Fahrenheit and pain in his left hand. During
Sickle cell anemia has a less serious condition known as Sickle Cell traits. This is a heterozygous condition where less than half of the number of red blood cells is sickle shaped while the rest are normal and they are involved inefficient oxygen loading. An individual with the sickle cell trait experiences a mild case of anemia but always leads a normal life. Treatments that have been prescribed for the sickle cell condition include medication as well as blood transfusions and rarely a bone-marrow
Sickle cell anemia is a disease that is found in about seventy thousand to one-hundred thousand people in a year here in the United States, most commonly found in African-Americans. This disease occurs in the blood where the hemoglobin attaches itself to the oxygen in the lungs and then carried all throughout the body. When this occurs the red blood cell is changed to rigid and the shape turns to a “C” (A.K.A. Sickle) which is where the disease got its name. The C like cell may get stuck and block blood flow to vital organs which can cause a stroke, acute chest syndrome, organ damage, and other disabilities. Sickle cell is unfortunately an inherited disease which is either passed down by both parents or if one parents has the trait and the
However, it is possible to combat some of the side effects of sickle cell anemia. Many doctors will prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infections and destruction of the liver. Prescription pain relievers are often administered to help assuage the crises. Alternative methods of diminishing the issues that accompany sickle cell anemia include blood transfusions, supplemental oxygen, and
The shortage of healthy blood cells make it difficult to move essential nutrients as well as oxygen throughout the body. This delays growth and puberty in children afflicted with Sickle Cell Disease. The result is stunted growth in adolescents. It is also possible for the hands and feet of someone with Sickle Cell Disease to become enlarged and painful. This is caused by sickle shaped blood cell blocking blood flow to the hands and feet. Another symptom of Sickle Cell Disease is an increased amount of infections. The explanation of this is that Sickle Cell Disease is very hard on one’s spleen. The Spleen is a organ that cleans the body’s blood of unwanted bacteria and anything else not wanted. But because sickled cells are transported there on mass, they often get stuck in the Spleen. The Spleen then becomes enlarged and painful. This is called a splenic sequestration. This usually can be remedied by a blood but it is also common to remove the Spleen
Sudden pain throughout the body. This is called “sickle crisis” and occurs when the flow of blood is blocked to an area because the sickle cells have been stuck in a blood vessel. The pain is most commonly felt in the chest, arms and legs.
Following a painful crisis, acute chest syndrome may start. The sickling in blood vessel deprives a person’s lungs of oxygen damaging lung tissue and the lungs are unable to exchange oxygen properly and at least one segment of the lung is damaged.