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Complications from sickle cell can be scary, painful and dangerous. Understanding them is the first step to being proactive in your health and taking action. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of sickle cell. It’s not easy, but it’s important to know about. Talk about changes you notice in your body and any concerns you have. In addition to understanding the complications, you can also learn how to manage the experiences you might face.
Some of the most common complications that come with sickle cell include:
Blockage of blood flow to the lungs can cause acute chest syndrome (ACS). When this happens, areas of lung tissue are damaged. It can be life-threatening and should be treated in a hospital. ACS often starts a few days after a pain crisis starts. Symptoms may include:
Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
A stroke happens when blood flow is blocked to a part of the brain. When this happens, brain cells can be damaged or can die. The symptoms depend on what part of the brain is affected. Symptoms of stroke may include:
Silent brain injury can also take place with no outward signs of stroke. Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms or any learning difficulties.
People with sickle cell can have problems with blood vessels in the heart, and their heart can become larger than normal. They can also have a type of high blood pressure known as pulmonary hypertension, which happens in the blood vessels of the lungs and heart. Pulmonary hypertension can cause shortness of breath and fatigue. People with sickle cell who have had a lot of blood transfusions may also have heart damage because they’ve received too much iron.
Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms or if you are concerned about blood transfusions.
Sickled red blood cells are hard on the kidneys. People with sickle cell can have:
Staying well-hydrated may help prevent dehydration (for example, when one has too little water in the body) -- which may lead to a pain crisis. It’s especially important to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise or physical activity.
Talk with your healthcare provider about any trouble that you’re having with urination.
Males with sickle cell can have unwanted and painful erections that last a long time. This condition is called priapism. Priapism happens when blood flow out of the erect penis is blocked by sickled cells. If it goes on for a long time without medical help, priapism can cause permanent damage to the penis and lead to impotence. Get medical care if priapism lasts for more than four hours.
When red blood cells die, they release hemoglobin into the bloodstream. Hemoglobin breaks down into a substance called bilirubin. Bilirubin can form stones that get stuck in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, sac-shaped organ beneath the liver that helps with digestion. Many people with sickle cell have gallbladder problems. Gallstones can also lead to gallbladder infection. Symptoms of gallbladder problems include:
Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
When sickled cells block blood vessels in the liver, it can prevent oxygen from reaching liver tissue. These episodes are usually sudden and can happen repeatedly. Children often recover, but some adults may have ongoing problems that lead to liver failure. People with sickle cell who have received frequent blood transfusions may develop liver damage from iron overload.
Talk to your doctor if you think you may have liver complications.
Pregnancies in women with sickle cell can be risky for both mother and baby.
During pregnancy, women may have medical problems that include:
They also are at higher risk for:
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November 2023.
This website is intended for U.S. residents.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.