Sickle crisis in the critically ill

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Jain ◽  
Mark T. Gladwin
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽  
Acute Chest Syndrome ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Transfusion Therapy

Sickle cell disease crises are precipitated by an acute occlusion of microvessels, which can lead to end organ ischaemia reperfusion injury and acute haemolysis. Acute fat emboli syndrome, acute lung injury (the acute chest syndrome), acute pulmonary hypertension, and cor pulmonale, haemorrhagic and occlusive stroke, and systemic infection represent the most common life-threatening complications observed in current ICU practice. General principles of management in all patients admitted to the critical care unit are hydration, antibiotics, pain control, and maintenance of oxygenation and ventilation. Red blood cell transfusion therapy is the treatment of choice for most complications of sickle cell disease requiring intensive care management. Transfusion of sickle negative, leukoreduced red blood cells, phenotypically matched for Rhesus and Kell antigens is the minimum standard of care in sickle cell disease patients as they have a high incidence of red blood cell alloimmunization.

scholarly journals Effects of Combination Hydroxyurea and Chronic Red Blood Cell Transfusion Therapy on the Immune Parameters of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 4840-4840
Author(s):  
Mahogany Oldham ◽  
Gelina Sani ◽  
Stefanie Margulies ◽  
Jennifer Webb ◽  
Robert Sheppard Nickel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Transfusion Therapy

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is typically characterized as a red blood cell disorder but our understanding of the effects on the immune system is limited. Patients with sickle cell disease have been shown to have unique inflammatory profiles, immune phenotypes and function. Others have shown that during vaso-occlusive crises patients with SCD have elevated counts of neutrophils, monocytes, and cytokines as well as increased activity of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT).We have previously shown that hydroxyurea use is associated with a normalization of the increased NK cell number and function. While there are studies that describe on the effects of single therapy, there is little known about combination therapy. Therefore, our study investigated immunological changes in pediatric patients on combination therapy, which was defined as hydroxyurea added to chronic red blood cell transfusion treatment. Methods: Patient data and peripheral blood samples were collected from an ongoing pilot study of combination therapy hydroxyurea and simple chronic transfusion in patients with SCD previously on chronic transfusion for stroke prevention. A total of 11 patients with hemoglobin SS were studied at two time points; baseline (on chronic RBC transfusion only) and 3 months follow up after initiation of hydroxyurea 20 mg/kg/day. Comparisons were performed using paired t-tests with a p-value <0.05 being considered significant. Results: T, B and NK cell percentage was similar between baseline and after 3 months of combination therapy 62.5% (44.3-71.9) vs 67% (17.6-82.7), 16.29%(8.15-30.2) vs. 13.26% (1.07-32.8) and 7.79% (4.16-14.7) vs. 6.88 (1.54-21) (p>0.05). There were no significant differences between markers of NK cell activation between baseline and 3 months as follows: NKG2D 4.89% (0.47-28.4) vs. 24.38% (0.88-63), and NKp30 8.40% (0.81-58.7) vs. 32.42% (0.45-86.9). However there was a significant decrease in the percentage of mature (CD57+) NK cells 33.8% (10.7-67.6) vs. 23.07%(4.23-37), p =0.005. Similar results were also seen when using absolute values of the different lymphocyte subsets. Conclusion: Combination therapy appears to not affect overall percentages of B, T and NK cells but does appear to decrease the percentage of mature CD57+ NK cells that are known to have increased cytolytic activity. We plan to investigate the implications of these findings using NK functional studies such as cytotoxicity assays and cytotoxic granule release to further elucidate if combination therapy can lead to a decrease in NK cell function to normal levels. Additionally we plan to assess the effect on the immune parameters at 1 year as the hydroxyurea effect is likely time-dependent. These findings may have implications for patients on chronic transfusion therapy who plan to undergo bone marrow transplantation where a reduction in the potential for graft rejection by NK cells is desired. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Blood Transfusion in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Incidence of Alloimmunization

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4859-4859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samip Master ◽  
Menchu Ong ◽  
Richard Preston Mansour
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽  
Acute Chest Syndrome ◽  
Cell Disease

Abstract Background: Chronic red blood cell transfusion has been proven to be effective in prevention of strokes, silent cerebral infarcts, acute chest syndrome, recurrent priapism and in pregnancy. The use of regular transfusions to mitigate other morbidities of sickle cell disease (SCD) is evolving. In the silent infarct transfusion (SIT) trial in children, chronic transfusion lead to a significant improvement in quality of life. Some of the common reasons patient with SCD do not get chronic transfusion is fear of alloimmunization, iron over load and risk of viral infections. We did a retrospective analysis of adult patients with SCD who need chronic blood transfusion to determine the incidence of alloimmunization. At our institute all pediatric sickle cell patients needing chronic transfusion are placed on protocol, receive C, E, and K matched blood, and remain on the protocol until they become adults. Methods: We electronically collected data from 180 adult SCD patients who need chronic transfusions and analyzed the data for the number of transfusions received, incidence of allo- immunization and most common antibodies identified. Results: A total of 3967 red blood cell transfusions were administered on 180 adult sickle cell disease patients. Twenty five patients developed antibodies (13.8 %). Fifteen out of the 25 had multiple antibodies (60%). The alloantibodies identified were : anti- K(11), anti- E(12), anti- Fya(5), anti-C (4), anti-V (4), anti- S (3), anti-D (2), anti- Jkb (1), anti-Jsa(1) , and anti- Lutherana (3). Two patients had cold and 5 patients had warm autoantibodies. Conclusion: The policy to place patients with SCD needing chronic transfusion on protocol to receive C, E, and K matched red blood cells has decreased the alloimmunization rate to 13.8 %. We conclude that, fear of alloimmunization should not preclude physicians from using chronic red cell transfusions to prevent complications in sickle cell disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Experience of a Single Institution in the UK

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4079-4079
Author(s):  
Jennifer Vidler ◽  
Kate Gardner ◽  
Aleksandar Mijovic ◽  
Swee Lay Thein
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Acute Pain ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽  
Acute Chest Syndrome ◽  
Cell Disease

Abstract Background: Blood transfusion is a key intervention in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD), and is being increasingly used. Nonetheless, transfusion is not without risks; alloimmunisation to red blood cell antigens is a major complication, and can sometimes precipitate a delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR), a potentially life-threatening event. Objectives: We describe the prevalence, risk factors and experience of DHTR in a large cohort of adult patients with SCD. Methods: Medical records of the 637 adult patients (all of African descent) regularly attending the SCD specialist clinic at King’s College Hospital, London, were retrospectively reviewed to identify DHTR cases. 362 (57%) were female, with 401 HbSS, 202 HbSC, 29 HbSβ+-thalassaemia (thal), 4 HbSβ0-thal, and 1 HbSSHPFH patients, mean age 36 ± 12 years. Between 1st August 2008 and 31st December 2013, 219 of the 637 patients received red blood cell transfusion, either as simple or exchange transfusion. 123 /219 (56%) of those who received transfusion were female, 84% HbSS genotype. Their Electronic Patient Records were examined, looking for a sharp drop in haemoglobin (Hb) after transfusion. If this was observed, laboratory data were combined with the clinical notes to detect evidence of a DHTR. Results: We identified 25 DHTR episodes (1.2% of all transfusion episodes) in 16 patients (table 1). Six patients had repeat DHTR episodes – 4 twice, one thrice, and one 4 times. Mean age at transfusion was 35.5 ± 14.8 years. Indications for the transfusion that triggered the DHTR, included 20 acute pain episodes (some with acute chest syndrome), 3 pre-operative and 2 chronic exchange program. Mean interval from transfusion to DHTR onset was 11 ± 7 days. Typical presentations of DHTR were fever, pain and hemoglobinuria. Blood results at DHTR diagnosis showed evidence of active haemolysis (mean LDH 1330 IU/L), and Hb drop (mean drop 40.4g/L, range 7 – 88g/L). 84% of episodes showed a severe haemolysis with nadir Hb lower than the pre-transfusion Hb. Mean reticulocyte count at peak haemolysis was 291 x109/L ± 121 x109/L. Eleven of the 25 episodes (44%) resulted in new red cell antibodies; 8 alloantibodies and 3 autoantibodies (table 1). DAT was positive in 16 of 19 (84%) cases where performed. 56% (14/25) of DHTR episodes were not diagnosed during admission, most often they were misdiagnosed as an acute pain crisis. Four of the 11 recognised DHTRs were treated with immunosuppression that included methylprednisolone, immunoglobulin, and, in one case, rituximab. All four of these uneventfully received further blood transfusions. The mean length of hospital stay was 15.9 days. 2/16 patients died, one of stroke, one of multi organ failure, giving a 13% mortality. Discussion: Our data suggest that DHTRs are a severe but uncommon complication of blood transfusion. They are poorly recognised, possibly as their presentation mimics an acute painful crisis. Notably, most of the DHTRs are triggered by RBC transfusions in the acute setting. We recommend a high index of suspicion for DHTR in any SCD patient who has been transfused in the past month and presents acutely to clinicians, as early intervention can be life-saving. Table 1. Table 1. *Exchange Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Non-crisis related pain occurs in adult patients with sickle cell disease despite chronic red blood cell exchange transfusion therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 103304
Author(s):  
Susanna A. Curtis ◽  
Balbuena-Merle Raisa ◽  
John D. Roberts ◽  
Jeanne E. Hendrickson ◽  
Joanna Starrels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Exchange Transfusion ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Transfusion Therapy

scholarly journals Designated Donor Program Enrollment Does Not Affect Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization Rates in Children with Sickle Cell Disease on Chronic Transfusion Therapy

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4291-4291
Author(s):  
Ronald Jackups ◽  
Debbie Woods ◽  
Robert J. Hayashi ◽  
Monica L. Hulbert
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Cell Transplant ◽  
Blood Group Antigens ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Transfusion Therapy

Abstract Background: Chronic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion therapy is the predominant treatment modality in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) at high risk of first or recurrent strokes. RBC alloimmunization develops in some patients receiving chronic transfusion therapy, due in part to genetic differences in the prevalence of blood group antigens between the patient population and the blood donor pool. Many children’s hospitals have developed designated donor or “buddy” programs to recruit African-American blood donors and assign them to specific SCD patients with matched phenotypes, particularly in the Rh and Kell antigen groups, to reduce the likelihood of RBC alloimmunization. However, the practical constraints of such programs may make it difficult to ensure that patients’ transfusions always come from designated donors. Moreover, it is unclear whether such programs result in a lower risk of RBC alloimmunization when compared to the use of non-designated-donor but phenotype-matched RBC units. We aimed to determine the proportion of transfusions from designated donors at our institution, hypothesizing that the development of new RBC alloantibodies is associated with a lower proportion of transfused units from designated donors. Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study of 38 patients with SCD who received chronic transfusion therapy (manual exchange or erythrocytapheresis) for primary or secondary stroke prevention from 1/1/2008 through 12/31/2012. Patients on transfusion therapy for 6 or more months were included. Subjects were censored at last date of follow-up or date of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The local designated donor program was started in 1999. Designated donors are selected to be ABO/RhD compatible and phenotype-matched to patients for the C, E, and K antigens. When units from designated donors are not available, compatible units phenotype-matched for C, E, and K are issued from general inventory. The number and percentage of units transfused from either designated or non-designated donors, and the identification of new RBC alloantibodies during the study period, were evaluated. The rates of alloimmunization were compared between patients who received a “high” (above the median) or “low” (below the median) proportion of designated donor units. Categorical variables were compared with Fisher’s exact test and medians with the Mann-Whitney U-test in SPSS version 21 (IBM, Armonk, NY). A p-value below 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: During the study period, 38 subjects (42% male) met all inclusion criteria. A median of 120 units (IQR 60-186) was transfused to each subject, and each subject received a median of 63% (IQR 45%-77%) of units from designated donors. Of the 38 subjects, 18 (47%) produced at least one newly identified RBC alloantibody during the study period. Among these 18 antibody producers, a total of 29 new alloantibodies were detected, with a range of 1-3 per subject. Ten of the newly identified alloantibodies were directed against C, D, E, or K. No statistically significant difference between antibody producers and non-producers was identified for total number of RBC units transfused (median 161 vs. 96, p = 0.067), number of units transfused from designated donors (median 107 vs. 49, p = 0.099), number of non-designated-donor, phenotype-matched units transfused from general inventory (median 38 vs. 26, p = 0.059), or proportion of units transfused from designated donors (median 68% vs. 49%, p = 0.28). Although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of alloimmunization in patients who received a high proportion of designated donor units (OR 2.4, CI 0.6-8.7), it was not statistically significant (p= 0.33). Conclusions: Despite receiving phenotypically matched RBC units, almost half of the children with SCD on chronic transfusion therapy in this cohort developed new RBC alloantibodies during a five-year period. The number of units transfused from a designated donor did not significantly affect alloimmunization rate. One-third of the new alloantibodies were directed against antigens specifically matched for in the designated donor program. Patient-specific factors, such as genetic variation in the Rh locus, may be responsible for the risk of alloimmunization. Alternative matching strategies, such as genotypic matching of RBC donors and recipients, should be explored in prospective studies. Disclosures Jackups: Immucor: Consultancy.

Outcomes of Chronic Automated RBC Exchange Program in Omaha, Nebraska 2015-2020

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 21-22
Author(s):  
Aleh Bobr ◽  
Scott A Koepsell ◽  
Julie Eclov ◽  
Omar Abughanimeh ◽  
Steven Ebers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Acute Chest Syndrome ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ed Visits

Background: Red blood cell exchange (RBCX) is an effective therapy in the treatment of different hemoglobinopathies. The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) established a chronic RBCX program in November 2015, which took care of patients with multiple hemoglobinopathies. In this study, we aim to evaluate the outcomes of this program. Methods: This is a retrospective study. After an IRB approval, we reviewed the charts of patients who were enrolled in the chronic RBCX program between 11/2015-7/2020 at UNMC. Data was collected to evaluate indications of RBCX, types of hemoglobinopathies, hemoglobinopathies' complications before and after the enrollment in the program, and assessment of hospital visits before and after enrollment in the program. Results: In November 2015, the chronic RBCX program was established in Nebraska. Since the start, 24 patients came through the program and 20 patients are still actively enrolled and undergoing regular exchange transfusions. The four patients who left the program did it for the following reasons: moving out of state, stem cell transplant and change to different treatment modality. Four of 24 patients were beta thalassemia patients (two of them with combined HbE/beta thalassemia). Twenty patients had sickle cell disease with two of them having combined beta thalassemia and HbS and one with alpha thalassemia and HbS. The indications ranged from history of stroke, intracranial vascular stenosis, acute chest syndrome (ACS), iron overload, multiple vascular occlusive crises (VOC) and intolerance of medications with most of the patients having multiple indications from the list above (Figure 1). There are several positive outcomes from being on the program. In the patients who had been on the program for at least one year (n=11), nine started the program with iron overload and all of them had a significant decrease in serum ferritin (average 751 ng/mL) with three patients returning to normal range. In the patients who had been in the program at least six months (n=16), 13 patients started with iron overload with five returning to normal range and average decrease in ferritin of 585 ng/mL. Another positive outcome is the number of emergency department (ED) visits for pain crisis. We noted reduction in ED visits in all patients who were in the program for at least six months (n=14), with the exception of one patient where the visits were likely the part of drug seeking behavior. In fact 12 of 13 patients had one or no ED visits within one year after starting on the chronic exchange program having had from 2-11 visits a year prior. None of the patients in the program experienced more severe complications of sickle cell disease, like stroke and acute chest syndrome, while on the program. Due to high volumes of transfusion, there is a big concern about developing red blood cell antibodies in sickle cell disease patients who in general have higher red blood cell antibody burden. Out of 24 patients in the program, six had pre-existing antibodies. For the duration of the program, no new alloantibodies were discovered in the chronically exchanged patients despite high transfusion volumes (range 14L-30L/year). The transfused blood was matched for Rh and Kell antigens for the patients with no antibody history. The patients with previous antibody history had additional matching for the antigen to which antibody was directed. Conclusion:Automated chronic RBCX transfusion program is safe to perform. It leads to significant reduction in volume overload and ED visits. Performing high volume transfusions outside of acute sickle cell crisis and with Rh and Kell matched units prevents formation of RBC antibodies Disclosures Gundabolu: BioMarin:Consultancy;Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceuticals:Consultancy.

Severity of iron overload in patients with sickle cell disease receiving chronic red blood cell transfusion therapy

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Harmatz ◽  
Ellen Butensky ◽  
Keith Quirolo ◽  
Roger Williams ◽  
Linda Ferrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Liver Injury ◽  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Liver Iron ◽  
Transfusion Therapy

Chronic transfusion therapy is being used more frequently to prevent and treat the complications of sickle cell disease. Previous studies have shown that the iron overload that results from such therapy in other patient populations is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this study we examined the extent of iron overload as well as the presence of liver injury and the predictive value of ferritin in estimating iron overload in children with sickle cell disease who receive chronic red blood cell transfusions. A poor correlation was observed between serum ferritin and the quantitative iron on liver biopsy (mean 13.68 ± 6.64 mg/g dry weight;R = 0.350, P = .142). Quantitative iron was highly correlated with the months of transfusion (R = 0.795, P < .001), but serum ferritin at biopsy did not correlate with months of transfusion (R = 0.308, P = .200). Sixteen patients had abnormal biopsies showing mild to moderate changes on evaluation of inflammation or fibrosis. Liver iron was correlated with fibrosis score (R = 0.50, P = .042). No complications were associated with the liver biopsy. Our data suggest that, in patients with sickle cell disease, ferritin is a poor marker for accurately assessing iron overload and should not be used to direct long-term chelation therapy. Despite high levels of liver iron, the associated liver injury was not severe.

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