Sickle Cell Disease Pain Management

Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although sickle cell disease can be found in various areas of the world, it predominantly affects individuals of African or Hispanic heritage. The hallmark clinical symptoms are due to vaso-occlusion, which occurs when the blood vessels are obstructed by sickled red cells. The most common symptom of vaso-occlusion is moderate-to-severe pain. Severe complications include acute chest syndrome, stroke, and pneumonia. Clinicians and patients with sickle cell disease may have difficulty treating the painful episodes owing to the subjective nature of pain and lack of knowledge of the disease.