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Case Reports
. 2021 May 30;13(5):e15334.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.15334. eCollection 2021 May.

Acute Liver Failure From Sickle Cell Hepatopathy Treated With Exchange Transfusion

Ahmad N Kassem  1 , Changsu Park  1 , Aarthi Rajkumar  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute Liver Failure From Sickle Cell Hepatopathy Treated With Exchange Transfusion

Ahmad N Kassem et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a qualitative hemoglobinopathy that can cause widespread sickling and vaso-occlusive events in all organ systems. Sickle cell hepatopathy is an umbrella term for various acute and chronic pathologies of the liver as a result of sickling in SCD patients. We present below the case of a 49-year-old woman who had an acute liver failure in the setting of a hepatic crisis with recovery after exchange transfusion. Hepatic involvement in SCD may be life-threatening. Understanding the etiology and severity of hepatic involvement by sickling is necessary for appropriate treatment.

Keywords: acute liver failure; exchange transfusion; red blood cell exchange; sickle cell crisis; sickle cell hepatopathy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Liver ultrasound showing increased echogenicity of the hepatic parenchyma with no common bile duct dilation.
CBD: common bile duct.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Status post cholecystectomy with a trace amount of free fluid in the gallbladder fossa.
FF: free fluid.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Doppler showing normal flow in the main portal vein.
MPV: main portal vein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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