10 Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms
Symptom #8: Chest pain
Patients with sickle cell disease may experience episodes of irreversible sickling of RBCs that can lead to complications of vaso-occlusion. One important site of vaso-occlusion during these episodes is pulmonary microcirculation, often precipitated by lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia).
Adult patients with acute chest syndrome present with chest pain and shortness of breath. Most importantly, acute chest syndrome is a medical emergency because it is the most common cause of death in adult patients with sickle cell anemia.
Advertisement
