Study in the Annals of Internal Medicine Finds Patients Suffering From Sickle Cell Anemia in Much Worse Pain Than Previously Thought
Posted on: Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 12:00 CST
A new study of patients suffering from sickle cell anemia found that patients were worse off than was previously believed. The study published in the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, found that daily pain is far more prevalent and severe than previous large studies have indicated.
The authors had 232 patients fill out diaries reporting on how much pain they were having, where they hurt and what types of medications they took. They found that, unlike previously believed, pain in sickle cell disease is a daily phenomenon and that patients struggled at home rather than go to the hospital or emergency room.
The disease is caused by a mutation of the red blood cell gene that changes normally smooth round blood cells into a sickle or C-shaped cell that are stiffer and more prone to clots. These clots can block the flow of blood into limbs and organs and cause pain, serious infections and organ damage, especially in the lungs, kidneys, spleen and brain. Because of the potential for damage to organs, people with sickle cell disease have shorter-than-average life expectancy.
About Annals of Internal Medicine:
Annals of Internal Medicine (www.annals.org) is one of the most widely cited peer-reviewed medical journals in the world. The journal has been published for 80 years and accepts only 7 percent of the original research studies submitted for publication. Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians, the nation's largest medical specialty society.
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Contact: Steve Majewski American College of Physicians 215-351-2514 Email Contact
SOURCE: American College of Physicians
Source: MARKET WIRE
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