Use of red blood cell exchange for treating acute complications of sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a life-threatening chronic condition primarily caused by genetic mutation. The disease is characterized by intermittent vaso-occlusive events and chronic hemolytic anemia. Acute complications in patients with SCD are difficult to manage due to the pathophysiological nature of the disease. Transfusion therapy is the cornerstone of management of acute complications and significantly reduces SCD morbidity and mortality. Red cell exchange (RCE), which is characterized by low iron accumulation and volume overload, has been widely used for transfusion therapy in recent years.