Sickle cell disease—pulmonary complications

Abstract

Sickle cell anaemia is common in certain ethnic groups, with well-recognized systemic manifestations. In the lung, these include a higher incidence of pneumonia, asthma, pulmonary thromboembolism, and pulmonary hypertension. In addition, nocturnal oxygen desaturation is more common, and sickle cell chronic lung disease (progressive breathlessness, abnormal pulmonary function, pulmonary hypertension) is thought to follow recurrent lung infection and infarction. A more acute presentation, the acute chest syndrome, with new pulmonary infiltrates, associated with fever, chest pain, and breathlessness, is thought to represent acute lung injury and may progress to ARDS and is one of the leading causes of death in sickle cell disease.