Red cells in sickle cell crisis: observations on the pathophysiology of crisis.

The pathophysiology of the occurrence and resolution of sickle cell crisis is unknown. The molecular abnormality is constant, while crisis is episodic. In the present study, red cell filterability and sickling with deoxygenation have been measured during sickle cell crises. Recovery from sickle crisis is associated with an increased filterability of the circulating red cell and a decreased susceptibility of the red cell to sickle with deoxygenation (p less than 0.05). The possibility that these changes are responsible for the resolution of crisis is suggested.