Asthma in Sickle Cell Disease

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Manisha Newaskar, Bay Area Pediatric Pulmonary Medical Corporation; Karen A. Hardy, Bay Area Pediatric Pulmonary Medical Corporation; Claudia R. Morris, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-01-01
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: ©2011 with author. Published by TheScientificWorld.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2011.105
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Scientific World Journal
• ISSN: 2356-6140
• Volume: 11
• Start Page: 1138
• End Page: 1152
• Keywords: ACUTE-CHEST-SYNDROME; LUNG-FUNCTION; asthma; arginine metabolome; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; asthma therapy; arginase; EXHALED NITRIC-OXIDE; CHILDHOOD ASTHMA; nitric oxide; PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2); Science & Technology - Other Topics; VASOOCCLUSIVE CRISIS; obstructive lung disease; Multidisciplinary Sciences; LOWER AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION; airway hyper-reactivity; Science & Technology; sickle cell disease; ARGINASE ACTIVITY; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; METHACHOLINE CHALLENGE; Environmental Sciences; PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION; proinflammatory state
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

In recent years, evidence has increased that asthma predisposes to complications of sickle cell disease (SCD), such as pain crises, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke, and is associated with increased mortality. An obstructive pattern of pulmonary function, along with a higher-than-expected prevalence of airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) when compared to the general population, has led some researchers to suspect that underlying hemolysis may contribute to the development of a pulmonary disease similar to asthma in patients with SCD. While the pathophysiologic mechanism in atopic asthma involves up-regulation of Th2 cytokines, mast cell- and eosinophil-driven inflammation, plus increased activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase in airway epithelium resulting in obstructive changes and AHR, the exact mechanisms of AHR, obstructive and restrictive lung disease in SCD is unclear. It is known that SCD is associated with a proinflammatory state and an enhanced inflammatory response is seen during vaso-occlusive events (VOE). Hemolysis-driven acute-on-chronic inflammation and dysregulated arginine-nitric oxide metabolism are potential mechanisms by which pulmonary dysfunction could occur in patients with SCD. In patients with a genetic predisposition of atopic asthma, these changes are probably more severe and result in increased susceptibility to sickle cell complications. Early recognition and aggressive management of asthma based on established National Institutes of Health asthma guidelines is recommended in order to minimize morbidity and mortality.