[New issues in adult sickle sell disease]

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, early medical treatment has significantly increased the life expectancy of children with sickle cell disease. More than 90% of patients now reach the age of 20, and the median life expectancy of sickle cell patients is at least 50 years in countries with advanced healthcare systems. The increase in the number of adults with homozygous sickle cell disease is accompanied by increasingly frequent chronic osteoarticular, renal, cardiorespiratory, ocular, cutaneous and cerebral complications. Pregnancy is a high-risk situation for the mother and child The efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea and long-term blood transfusions in adults with sickle cell disease are currently under investigation.