Cardiovascular Complications Of Sickle Cell Disease *

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, and a global health problem. Pathological features of the abnormal hemoglobin (HbS) result in 2 hallmarks of the dis-ease -recurrent episodes of acute microvascular occlusion and chronic hemolytic anemia -that inflict continuous and insidious damage to multiple organs. With improved childhood survival, SCD in adults has evolved into a chronic degenerative disease with underlying damage to multiple organs including the heart and lungs. Cardiopulmonary complications, including cardiomyopathy, diastolic dysfunction, pul-monary hypertension (PH), and sudden cardiac death are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. Awareness of the sickle-related cardiovascular phenotypes is important for screening, early di-agnosis, and intervention of cardiac complications in this disorder.Published by Elsevier Inc.