Sickle Cell Crisis - Health Union, LLC

The sickle cell crisis, also called acute pain crisis or vaso-occlusive crisis, is the most common reason that people with SCD go to the hospital. Episodes are sudden and unpredictable and may be triggered by different unknown risk factors. About 5 percent of people with SCD have 3 to 10 episodes of severe pain per year. The average rate is about 1 episode per year for people with sickle cell anemia and sickle beta zero thalassemia. The average is about 1 episode per 2 years for people with hemoglobin SC disease and sickle beta plus thalassemia. Sickle cell crises often lead to further complications of SCD. About half of reported cases of acute chest syndrome happen after a hospital stay for a pain crisis. Sometimes, sickle cell crises can result in acute failure of multiple organs or sudden unexpected death.   Abstract source