Red Blood Cell supports prolong the Survival in Sickle Cell Diseases

Background: Hardened red blood cells (RBCs)-induced capillary endothelial damage initiates at birth in sickle cell diseases. Methods: Patients with red blood cells (RBCs) transfusions of less than 50 units in their lives were put into the first and 50 units or higher were put into the second groups. Results: There were 224 cases in the first and 92 cases in the second groups. Mean ages were similar in them (28.9 vs 30.0 years, respectively, p>0.05). Although the lower prevalence of autosplenectomy (56.2% vs 45.6%, p<0.05), male ratio (45.5% vs 64.1%, p<0.001), white blood cells (WBCs) (14.931 vs 15.346/µL, p<0.05) and platelets (PLTs) (435.670 vs 498.310/µL, p= 0.005) counts, painful crises per year (3.8 vs 8.4, p= 0.000), smoking (12.0% vs 17.3%, p<0.05), clubbing (7.1% vs 15.2%, p<0.01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (6.6% vs 20.6%, p<0.001), leg ulcers (11.6% vs 21.7%, p<0.01), stroke (5.8% vs 11.9%, p<0.05), chronic renal disease (CRD) (4.9% vs 14.1%, p<0.001), coronary heart disease (CHD) (4.0% vs 8.6%, p<0.05), and mean age of mortality (29.5 vs 34.6 years, p<0.05) were all higher in the second group. Conclusion: Although the lower prevalence of autosplenectomy, male ratio, WBCs and PLTs counts, painful crises per year, smoking, clubbing, COPD, leg ulcers, stroke, CRD, CHD, and mean age of mortality were higher in the second group. So autosplenectomy may be a good, and male gender alone may be a bad prognostic feature that can not be explained by smoking alone at the younger age, and RBCs supports prolong the survival. Key words: Sickle cell diseases, hardened red blood cells, capillary endothelial damage, capillary endothelial edema, myocardial infarction, stroke, red blood cell supports