Evidence-based mini-review: Are systemic corticosteroids an effective treatment for acute pain in sickle cell disease?
An 18-year-old African-American male with sickle cell disease (SCD) is admitted to the hospital with a vaso-occlusive pain crisis affecting his chest and right upper extremity. He has a history of asthma but does not have a fever or respiratory symptoms, and a chest X-ray is negative for an infiltrate. He is treated with intravenous fluids and morphine. You are asked about the potential efficacy of systemic corticosteroids as an adjunctive treatment for pain control.
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. vblack4@jhmi.edu
L
L
Vandy Black
Wally R
WR
Smith
D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones