Overview of Sickle Cell Disease and Acute Chest Syndrome

Sickle cell disease is a genetic hemoglobinopathy that predominantly affects individuals of African, Mediterranean, Indian, and Middle Eastern descent. It is characterized by the presence of hemoglobin S, leading to sickle-shaped red blood cells with reduced solubility when deoxygenated. Major factors causing sickling include hypoxemia, acidosis, dehydration, inflammation, infection, fever, and blood stasis. Complications of sickle cell disease encompass vaso-occlusive crisis, anemia, sequestration, infection, and acute chest syndrome, the latter being a form of acute lung injury characterized by vaso-occlusive events in pulmonary vasculature.