title: Updated Mechanisms of Sickle Cell Disease-Associated Chronic pain.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD), a hemoglobinopathy, causes sickling of red blood cells, resulting in vessel blockage, stroke, anemia, inflammation, and extreme pain. A vast majority of SCD patients experience pain on a chronic basis, and many turn to opioids to provide limited relief. The side effects that come with chronic opioid use push for research into understanding the specific mechanisms of SCD-associated chronic pain. Current advances in SCD-associated pain have focused on alterations in the pain pathway including nociceptor sensitization and endogenous pain inducers. This article reviews the underlying pathophysiology of SCD, potential pain mechanisms, current treatments and their mechanism of action, and future directions of SCD-associated pain management. The information provided could help propel research in SCD-associated chronic pain and uncover novel treatment options for clinicians.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors: Brianna
authors: B
authors: Lutz
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors: Steffen E
authors: SE
authors: Meiler
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Bekker
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA ; Departments of Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology & Physiology, and Neurology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors: Yuan-Xiang
authors: YX
authors: Tao
keywords: Mechanisms; Pain; Sickle cell disease; Treatment