What is the most common cause of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease?

What is the most common cause of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease?

• A. Infection
• B. Pulmonary embolism
• C. Fluid overload
• D. Allergic reaction

Answer: (A)

Acute chest syndrome is a serious complication of sickle cell disease driven by new pulmonary symptoms and infiltrates from sickling in the lung. The most common trigger is infection, often pneumonia from bacteria or a viral illness. Inflammation from infection promotes vasocclusion and lung injury, leading to chest symptoms, hypoxemia, and the new infiltrate that defines ACS. While other factors like fat embolism from bone marrow infarcts can precipitate ACS, they are less frequent than infection. Pulmonary embolism and fluid overload can cause respiratory symptoms but are not the typical primary triggers of ACS, and an allergic reaction is not a common mechanism.

Acute chest syndrome is a serious complication of sickle cell disease driven by new pulmonary symptoms and infiltrates from sickling in the lung. The most common trigger is infection, often pneumonia from bacteria or a viral illness. Inflammation from infection promotes vasocclusion and lung injury, leading to chest symptoms, hypoxemia, and the new infiltrate that defines ACS. While other factors like fat embolism from bone marrow infarcts can precipitate ACS, they are less frequent than infection. Pulmonary embolism and fluid overload can cause respiratory symptoms but are not the typical primary triggers of ACS, and an allergic reaction is not a common mechanism.