Growth differentiation factor-15 in young sickle cell disease patients: Relation to hemolysis, iron overload and vascular complications

Background: Red cell transfusions remain a mainstay of therapy for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), but pose significant clinical challenges. Guidance for specific indications and administration of transfusion, as well as screening, prevention, and management of alloimmunization, delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTRs), and iron overload may improve outcomes. Objective: Our objective was to develop evidence-based guidelines to support patients, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals in their decisions about transfusion support for SCD and the management of transfusion-related complications. Methods: The American Society of Hematology formed a multidisciplinary panel that was balanced to minimize bias from conflicts of interest and that included a patient representative. The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes. The Mayo Clinic Evidence-Based Practice Research Program supported the guideline development process. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to form recommendations, which were subject to public comment. Results: The panel developed 10 recommendations focused on red cell antigen typing and matching, indications, and mode of administration (simple vs red cell exchange), as well as screening, prevention, and management of alloimmunization, DHTRs, and iron overload. Conclusions: The majority of panel recommendations were conditional due to the paucity of direct, high-certainty evidence for outcomes of interest. Research priorities were identified, including prospective studies to understand the role of serologic vs genotypic red cell matching, the mechanism of HTRs resulting from specific alloantigens to inform therapy, the role and timing of regular transfusions during pregnancy for women, and the optimal treatment of transfusional iron overload in SCD.

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Iron Depletion: An Ameliorating Factor for Sickle Cell Disease?

ISRN Hematology ◽

10.5402/2011/473152 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

P. C. Giordano ◽

W. Huisman ◽

C. L. Harteveld

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Beneficial Effect ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Chelation Therapy ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Laboratory Practice ◽

Iron Depletion ◽

Severity Of The Disease

We report some observations from our laboratory practice that might be important for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). We describe data from two cases indicating that iron depletion might have a beneficial effect diminishing the formation of HbS in favor of HbF, possibly reducing the severity of the disease. We believe that it would be worthwhile to monitor the course of the disease comparing cases with identical genotypes with and without iron depletion, and we advise to consider chelation therapy to reduce iron overload in patients with SCD.

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Increased levels of soluble P-selectin correlate with iron overload in sickle cell disease

British Journal of Biomedical Science ◽

10.1080/09674845.2007.11732771 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 124-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.D. Blann ◽

S.S. Marwah ◽

A.J. Cobley ◽

D Bareford

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Soluble P

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Priapism in Sickle Cell Anemia: Emerging Mechanistic Understanding and Better Preventative Strategies

Anemia ◽

10.1155/2011/297364 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Genevieve M. Crane ◽

Nelson E. Bennett

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Sickle Cell Anemia ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Vascular Complications ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Nitric Oxide Signaling ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Ischemic Priapism

Sickle cell anemia is a common and disabling disorder profoundly affecting mortality as well as quality of life. Up to 35% of men with sickle cell disease are affected by painful, prolonged erections termed ischemic priapism. A priapic episode may result in fibrosis and permanent erectile dysfunction. The severity of sickle cell disease manifestations is variable dependent on a number of contributing genetic factors; however, priapism tends to cluster with other severe vascular complications including pulmonary hypertension, leg ulceration, and overall risk of death. The mechanisms underlying priapism in sickle cell disease have begun to be elucidated including hemolysis-mediated dysregulation of the nitric oxide signaling pathway and dysregulation of adenosine-mediated vasodilation. A better understanding of these mechanisms is leading toward novel preventative strategies. This paper will focus on the mechanisms underlying development of ischemic priapism in sickle cell disease, current acute and preventative treatment strategies, and future directions for improved management of this disorder.

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Consequences and management of iron overload in sickle cell disease

Hematology ◽

10.1182/asheducation-2013.1.447 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (1) ◽

pp. 447-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

John Porter ◽

Maciej Garbowski

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Blood Transfusion ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Iron Concentration ◽

Thalassemia Major ◽

Iron Loading ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Liver Iron Concentration ◽

Liver Iron

Abstract The aims of this review are to highlight the mechanisms and consequences of iron distribution that are most relevant to transfused sickle cell disease (SCD) patients and to address the particular challenges in the monitoring and treatment of iron overload. In contrast to many inherited anemias, in SCD, iron overload does not occur without blood transfusion. The rate of iron loading in SCD depends on the blood transfusion regime: with simple hypertransfusion regimes, rates approximate to thalassemia major, but iron loading can be minimal with automated erythrocyte apheresis. The consequences of transfusional iron overload largely reflect the distribution of storage iron. In SCD, a lower proportion of transfused iron distributes extrahepatically and occurs later than in thalassemia major, so complications of iron overload to the heart and endocrine system are less common. We discuss the mechanisms by which these differences may be mediated. Treatment with iron chelation and monitoring of transfusional iron overload in SCD aim principally at controlling liver iron, thereby reducing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Monitoring of liver iron concentration pretreatment and in response to chelation can be estimated using serum ferritin, but noninvasive measurement of liver iron concentration using validated and widely available MRI techniques reduces the risk of under- or overtreatment. The optimal use of chelation regimes to achieve these goals is described.

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