Urinary retention in sickle cell syndromes

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Hematology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin.
• Painful crises are a common and debilitating complication of sickle cell disease.

Observation:

• Four patients with sickle cell disease presented with acute urinary retention during painful crises.
• Urinary retention resolved spontaneously with the resolution of the painful crisis.

Findings:

• No anatomical urological defects, systemic neurological abnormalities, or infections were identified in the affected patients.
• The acute urinary retention appears to be transient and associated with the sickle cell crisis itself.

Implications:

• Clinicians should monitor patients with sickle cell disease for urinary retention during painful episodes.
• This observation suggests a potential non-obstructive mechanism for urinary retention in sickle cell disease crises.