Table 1.

SCD complications and specialists needed

ComplicationSpecialistsES or P
Retinopathy Retinal specialist ES 
Leg ulcer Wound care ES 
Restrictive lung disease Pulmonary ES 
Pulmonary hypertension Cardiology (or pulmonary)* ES 
Renal disease Nephrology ES 
AVN Orthopedics ES 
Gallstones/hypersplenism General surgeon ES 
Mood disorders Psychiatry/psychology ES 
Neurovascular disease Neurosurgeon ES 
Priapism Urology ES 
Transfusion-related complications Blood bank specialist ES 
Pregnancy-related complications Maternal-fetal medicine/high-risk OBGYN ES 
Iron overload (assessment) Radiologic specialists 
Chronic pain Pain specialist 
ComplicationSpecialistsES or P
Retinopathy Retinal specialist ES 
Leg ulcer Wound care ES 
Restrictive lung disease Pulmonary ES 
Pulmonary hypertension Cardiology (or pulmonary)* ES 
Renal disease Nephrology ES 
AVN Orthopedics ES 
Gallstones/hypersplenism General surgeon ES 
Mood disorders Psychiatry/psychology ES 
Neurovascular disease Neurosurgeon ES 
Priapism Urology ES 
Transfusion-related complications Blood bank specialist ES 
Pregnancy-related complications Maternal-fetal medicine/high-risk OBGYN ES 
Iron overload (assessment) Radiologic specialists 
Chronic pain Pain specialist 

AVN, avascular necrosis; ES, essential; OBGYN, obstetrics and gynecology specialist; P, preferred.

*

Prefer (not essential) with sickle cell–specific training.

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