title: Sickle cell vasoocclusive crisis and acute chest syndrome at term pregnancy.
abstract: Women with sickle cell anemia are surviving longer and may desire pregnancy. Rare, life-threatening complications of sickle cell anemia, such as acute chest syndrome, may occur at the time of delivery. A 22-year-old woman with sickle cell (HbS/beta+ thalassemia) at 35 weeks of gestation presented with shortness of breath and generalized pain. She was diagnosed with vasoocclusive crisis and acute chest syndrome, managed with exchange transfusion and cesarean delivery, and discharged home with her newborn one week later. Prompt recognition of life-threatening complications of sickle cell anemia in a pregnant woman and collaborative medical and obstetric management are essential to optimize maternal and fetal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Medical Intensive Care Unit, St. Luke's Hospital MU 316, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA.
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elsayegh
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006450:Hemoglobin SC Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013577:Syndrome