Sickle cell disease is a hemoglobinopathy often complicated by painful vaso-occlusive episodes, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of sickle cell disease. SCIC is thought to involve progressive hepatic injury due to sickling within sinusoids. We present the case of a young patient with SCIC and acute liver failure, requiring prompt treatment with exchange transfusion. Our case describes features that should raise suspicion for hepatic failure in SCIC and highlights exchange transfusion as a successful management approach in similar patients with an otherwise high risk of mortality.
Keywords: exchange transfusion; liver failure; sickle cell disease; sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis; transaminitis.
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.