title: Pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease.
abstract: The pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in affected patients. The acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of death in patients with sickle cell disease and has a multifactorial etiology. Hydroxyurea (HU), stem cell transplantation (SCT) and chronic transfusions are known to prevent the recurrence of ACS. Careful management of patients admitted for pain crises and surgery including use of incentive spirometry is critical in preventing this complication. Pulmonary hypertension is well known to be associated with sickle cell disease and patients with pulmonary hypertension have increased mortality. Asthma is also commonly seen in patients with sickle cell disease and is associated with a more complicated course. Chronic lung disease develops in a significant proportion of patients with sickle cell disease.
authors.affiliation: Children's Cancer Centre of Lebanon, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Medical Centre, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ruby A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Khaled M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Musallam
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mroueh
authors.forename: Miguel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abboud
mesh_terms: D056586:Acute Chest Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy