Sickle Cell Disease: Aplastic Crisis

Overview

Aplastic crisis is a condition in which the bone marrow of someone with sickle cell disease suddenly stops producing red blood cells. This causes sudden and severe anemia. The crisis is usually caused by an infection with parvovirus. This is the virus that causes fifth disease in children.

Blood transfusions might be done to treat an aplastic crisis. This means you receive healthy blood from another person. After a few days, the bone marrow usually recovers on its own, and red blood cell production returns to its usual rate.^{footnote 1}

References

Citations

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (2002). The Management of Sickle Cell Disease (NIH Publication No. 02-2117). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/blood/sickle/.

Credits

Current as of: September 8, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
Martin Steinberg MD - Hematology