Treatment Options That Reduce the Duration of Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crises: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Most patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) seek hospital care because of pain symptoms. While some patients opt to treat themselves at home, some prefer to seek treatment in a hospital setting. There are, however, some patients with more complicated effects of the disease who seek treatment so often that they have been termed “super-users.” This paper seeks to determine, across the board, the treatments available for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), the most common complication of SCD. Due to the frequency and unpredictable nature of VOC, it is no surprise that the lives of so many patients dealing with SCD are constantly disrupted by this complication. Treatments that reduce the frequency of VOC and the need for hospital admissions will help these patients find some semblance of balance in their quality of life.