Authors: Heyman HM, Alberts NM, Rees M, Puri L, Frett MJ, Anghelescu DL
Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) have been shown to have pain-related sequelae following COVID-19 infection. In this case series, we discuss five adolescents with SCD and SARS-CoV-2 infection who subsequently developed complex pain circumstances manifested as: (1) increased frequency of acute care visits or admissions for pain; (2) new onset chronic pain; (3) new onset neuropathic pain; (4) escalation in the complexity of pharmacologic therapies; (5) increased use of nonpharmacologic interventions. While more research is needed to fully understand the implications of COVID-19 infection on pain in adolescents with SCD, these cases suggest the presence of a complex relationship.
Keywords: COVID-19; anemia; chronic pain; neuropathic pain; sickle cell disease; vaso-occlusive crisis;
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36467817/
DOI: 10.1002/jha2.587