Acute chest syndrome
Encyclopedia
The acute chest syndrome is a noninfectious vaso-occlusive crisis
of the pulmonary vasculature commonly seen in patients with sickle cell anemia.
It is characterized by a new infiltrate
on a chest x-ray
.
and loss of oxygen tension leads to sickling of red cells and further vasoocclusion.
production, dyspnea
, or hypoxia
.
Vaso-occlusive crisis
A vaso-occlusive crisis is a common painful complication of sickle cell anemia in adolescents and adults. It is a form of sickle cell crisis. It occurs when the circulation of blood vessels is obstructed by sickled red blood cells, causing ischemic injuries...
of the pulmonary vasculature commonly seen in patients with sickle cell anemia.
It is characterized by a new infiltrate
Infiltration (medical)
Infiltration is the diffusion or accumulation of substances not normal to it or in amounts in excess of the normal. The material collected in those tissues or cells is called infiltrate.-Classification:...
on a chest x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
.
Cause
The crisis is often initiated by a lung infection, and the resulting inflammationInflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
and loss of oxygen tension leads to sickling of red cells and further vasoocclusion.
Symptoms
The crisis is a common complication in sickle-cell patients and can be associated with one or more symptoms including fever, cough, sputumSputum
Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways. It is usually used for microbiological investigations of respiratory infections....
production, dyspnea
Dyspnea
Dyspnea , shortness of breath , or air hunger, is the subjective symptom of breathlessness.It is a normal symptom of heavy exertion but becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected situations...
, or hypoxia
Hypoxia
Hypoxia may refer to:* Hypoxia , reduced dissolved oxygen content of a body of water detrimental to aerobic organisms* Hypoxia , a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply-Popular culture:* "Hypoxia" , a 2008 ambient song*...
.