Long-term management of splenic sequestration in children with sickle cell disease.

We describe our experience with 23 children with sickle cell disease and splenic sequestration crisis, emphasizing our management approaches and the patients' subsequent clinical courses. Our data illustrate that sequestration crisis may occur despite a reduction in hemoglobin S concentration to less than 30% of the total hemoglobin mass. In addition, the risk of recurrent splenic sequestration was similar for patients who received transfusion therapy and for those who were simply observed. We conclude that a short-term transfusion program to prevent recurrent splenic sequestration is of limited benefit.