Sickle Cell Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sickle Cell Anemia, including details on genetics, causes, symptoms.

Sudden-onset blindness in sickle cell disease due to retinal artery occlusion.

Liem RI, Calamaras DM, Chhabra MS, Files B, Minniti CP, Thompson AA

Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA. rliem@childrensmemorial.org

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare and potentially devastating cause of acute blindness in sickle cell disease (SCD) that is unique compared to classic sickle retinopathy. Few details related to this complication in SCD are known, including its risk factors, pathogenesis, presentation, treatment and outcomes. We present three patients with SCD and retinal artery occlusion. The overall variability in clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis reported in the literature underscores the need for a greater understanding of these factors as they relate to this complication in SCD.

Published 15 January 2008 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 50(3): 624-7.
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