title: Sickle cell disease; a general overview.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a heterogeneous disorder, with clinical manifestations including chronic haemolysis, an increased susceptibility to infections and vaso-occlusive complications often requiring medical care. Patients with SCD can develop specific and sometimes life-threatening complications, as well as extensive organ damage reducing both their quality of life and their life expectancy. Proven effective treatment options for sickle cell patients are limited to hydroxyurea, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplantation. With the increasing prevalence of SCD in the Netherlands, a fundamental understanding of its pathophysiology and clinical syndromes is of importance for local medical practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Elisabeth Hospital, Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles. jschnog@wanadoo.nl
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schnog
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duits
authors.forename: F A J
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muskiet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: ten Cate
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rojer
authors.forename: D P M
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Brandjes
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006918:Hydroxyurea