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  • Title: Safety and efficacy of blood exchange transfusion for priapism complicating sickle cell disease.
    Author: Ballas SK, Lyon D.
    Journal: J Clin Apher; 2016 Feb; 31(1):5-10. PubMed ID: 25809639.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Priapism is unwanted painful penile erection that affects about 36% of boys and men with sickle cell disease (SCD) most of whom have sickle cell anemia. Clinically, priapism could be stuttering, minor, or major. The first two types are mild, last < 4 h, are usually treated at home, have good prognosis with normal sexual function. The major type of priapism lasts >4 h, associated with severe pain, requires hospitalization; often does not respond to medical treatment and may require shunt surgery. Untreated major priapism and surgical intervention often cause impotence. In this study, we report our 15-year experience in treating adult patients with SCD and major priapism with blood exchange transfusion after being refractory to other medical therapies. METHODS: Adult male African Americans patients with SCD and major priapism were enrolled in this study and followed for 15 years. A Haemonitics V-50 machine was initially used for whole blood exchange and was later replaced with Cobe Spectra machine for RBC exchange. RESULTS: We used 239 blood exchanges requiring 1,136 RBC units. We maintained a post-exchange hemoglobin level of about 10 g/dL and hemoglobin S level < 30%. None of the patients had any neurological complications such as headache, seizures, neurological deficits, or obtundation post-exchange. CONCLUSION: Together, the data indicate that blood exchange transfusion for the treatment of patients with SCD and major priapism is efficacious and safe.
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