Indications for red cell transfusion in sickle cell disease.

Transfusion of red blood cells is an important therapeutic method employed in the care of people with sickle cell disease (SCD). There are several clinical situations in which patients with SCD clearly need red cell transfusion (RCT). In other situations, the indication for RCT is doubtful, controversial, or III-advised. RCT is used on either an episodic or chronic basis in the management of SCD. Episodic transfusions are usually applied in a patient who has already developed a serious complication of SCD or are used to reduce the chances for the development of a complication. Chronic transfusion therapy is often used to prevent the recurrence of a major complication such as a stroke. Recently, chronic transfusion has been applied to patients with evidence of cerebrovascular disease to prevent the first occurrence of stroke.