Acute Ischemic Stroke in Sickle Cell Disease Challenges for Thrombolysis

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy disorder that was recognized in 1949. Stroke is one of the most devastating complications of this disorder. The risk of stroke in SCD patients varies with the genotype; the highest rate has been reported with hemoglobin S. Tissue type plasminogen activator (t PA) is class I recommended therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) since 1996. Although it is unclear if SCD patients were included in the t PA trail, SCD has never been identified as contraindication. The debate of offering t PA for adult SCD patient presenting with AIS continued for at least 2 decades. It is not up and until 2 years ago when the American Heart Association and American stroke association (AHA/ASA) announced that intravenous (IV) t PA can be offered to adult SCD patients presenting with AIS. Here, we report a case where successful IV thrombolytic therapy was offered to an adult SCD patient presenting with AIS with excellent outcome.