Ischemic Pain Testing Demonstrates Hypoxia Dependent Early Pain and Hypoxia Independent Persistent Pain Responses in Adults with Sickle Cell Anemia

The hallmark manifestation of homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) is acute pain. The underlying etiology is unknown. It is believed that hypoxia induces changes in erythrocyte shape and produces microvasculature occlusion by sickled red cells. Vascular occlusion is believed to represent the event inducing tissue hypoxia, reperfusion injury and pain.