Maqbool Alam, Mohammed Khurshid Uttra.
Role of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Sickle Cell Disease.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(9):556-7.

Sickle cell disease patients are vulnerable to infections and primary dilemma often involves distinguishing a painful crisis from some infection. A study was carried out in sickle cell patients admitted in hospital with fever to evaluate the role of increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of infection. Out of 32 children with sickle cell disease and elevated ESR (>21 mm/hr), 23(72%) had documented bacterial infection in contrast with 7(23%) of 31 children whose ESR at admission was <20 mm/hr.10 As the number of sickle cell disease patients with documented bacterial infection was low in our study, we did not analyze this aspect. A larger study is required to establish the cut off values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate to differentiate between painful crisis and infection. Our preliminary findings show that ESR is of potential value for monitoring the onset of tissue ischaemia in painful crisis in sickle cell disease patients. This is a short communication.

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