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Use of erythrocytapheresis in the treatment of patients with sickle cell anemia
Author(s) -
Kleinman Steven H.,
Hurvitz Carole G.,
Goldfinger Dennis
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of clinical apheresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.697
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1098-1101
pISSN - 0733-2459
DOI - 10.1002/jca.2920020205
Subject(s) - medicine , sickle cell anemia , priapism , anemia , disease , transfusion therapy , acute chest syndrome , exchange transfusion , respiratory distress , acute respiratory distress , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , surgery , blood transfusion , lung
We performed exchange transfusions, utilizing the technique of automated erythrocytapheresis, for the treatment of patients with sickle cell anemia. In an attempt to determine guidelines for the use of erythrocytapheresis, we studied the use of this procedure in three distinct clinical situations in nine patients with sickle cell disease. Patients with dangerous complications of sickle cell disease such as acute respiratory distress and priapism responded well to erythrocytapheresis, showing marked improvement within 24–48 hours. Patients with prolonged painful vaso‐occlusive crises showed only variable improvement after erythrocytapheresis therapy, insufficient to justify exposing the patient to the risks of the procedure. Patients treated to decrease the frequency of painful crises demonstrated no prolongation in symptom‐free intervals between crises. Therefore, erythrocytapheresis has its main value in the management of acute, dangerous complications of sickle cell disease.