Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the world’s most commonmonogenic disorders, affecting about 100,000 peoplein the United States. The illness is manifested by sudden,unpredictable and severe bouts of pain, termed vaso-occlusiveepisodes (VOEs). In addition to the classic presentationof severe VOEs, SCD leads to end-organ damage inmultiple systems (Table 1). This damage is cumulative, andultimately leads to a decreased average lifespan and qualityof life.1 As is the case for many genetic diseases, pediatricianshave been at the forefront of research and treatmentfor SCD. Nevertheless, as patients with SCD mature intoadulthood, they face the unique problems of adults, alongwith the accumulating burden of symptoms and end-organdamage from hemoglobinopathy, and care in adult medicinepractices becomes appropriate. Current guidelines for themanagement of SCD call for the care of patients with SCDto be coordinated throughout the lifespan and across caresettings as in the patient-centered medical home model.
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