Acute Chest Syndrome of Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

The acute chest syndrome (ACS) is an acute pulmonary illness that occurs in patients with sickle cell disease. ACS is currently defined as a new infiltrate on chest radiograph in conjunction with 1 other new symptom or sign: chest pain, cough, wheezing, tachypnea, and/or fever (> 38.5°C). 1 The term acute chest syndrome was first suggested in 1979 by Charache et al2 and was developed to reflect the unique nature of acute pulmonary illness in patients with sickle cell disease. ACS can be caused by a variety of mechanisms, both infectious and noninfectious. Diagnostic considerations and treatment modalities are not typical of any other specific pulmonary illness experienced by the general population. Furthermore, the typical course, possible complications, and outcome