title: Sudden-onset blindness in sickle cell disease due to retinal artery occlusion.
abstract: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare and potentially devastating cause of acute blindness in sickle cell disease (SCD) that is unique compared to classic sickle retinopathy. Few details related to this complication in SCD are known, including its risk factors, pathogenesis, presentation, treatment and outcomes. We present three patients with SCD and retinal artery occlusion. The overall variability in clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis reported in the literature underscores the need for a greater understanding of these factors as they relate to this complication in SCD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA. rliem@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Calamaras
authors.forename: Manpreet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Files
authors.forename: Caterina P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Minniti
authors.forename: Alexis A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010100:Oxygen