Managing patients with sickle cell disease in primary care

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of disorders affecting the hemoglobin in erythrocytes. SCD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and occurs most commonly among people of African ancestry. In 2014, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute updated its guidelines for the management of SCD. These guidelines were implemented to provide evidence-based recommendations to assist primary care clinicians in the proper management of patients with SCD. This article reviews the current practice guidelines for SCD, with attention to health maintenance and hydroxyurea.