Sample Page

Sickle cell anemia can be accompanied by various physical and emotional/mental complications. Physical complications may include:

• acute chest syndrome
• blindness
• cardiomegaly
• cerebrovascular accident
• chronic organ damage
• chronic pain
• chronic skin ulceration
• hematuria and renal dysfunction
• hepatomegaly
• infections and sepsis
• nercrosis of bone marrow, bone, and joints
• osteomyelitis
• priapism
• pulmonary arterial hypertension
• stroke

Emotional complications include anxiety and depression. In addition, post-treatment complications that result from repeated transfusions and pharmacotherapy may also occur.