Genitourinary manifestations of sickle cell disease

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is a common genetic disorder characterized by sickling of red blood cells under conditions of reduced oxygen tension. In turn, sickling leads to intravascular hemolysis and vaso-occlusive events with subsequent tissue ischemia-reperfusion injury affecting multiple organs, including the genitourinary system. Our review of the genitourinary manifestations of sickle cell disease focuses on sickle cell nephropathy, priapism, and other genitourinary complications such as papillary necrosis and renal medullary carcinoma.