Sickle cell disease: an update.

Sickle cell disease is a common inherited disorder that is characterised by chronic haemolysis and vaso-occlusive episodes, resulting in severe pain and end-organ damage. The most frequent acute manifestation of sickle cell disease is a painful vaso-occlusive crisis, which can, in some cases, develop into a sickle chest crisis: a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that requires early recognition and prompt intervention to prevent progressive respiratory failure. In addition to the acute complications, patients with sickle cell disease are also at risk of a number of chronic complications that require multidisciplinary specialist input.