Introduction:

Sickle cell disease includes a group of genetically inherited disorders in which, at low oxygen saturation, aggregation of rigid polymers of deoxygenated hemoglobin S occurs. Pain is the main clinical characteristic of sickle cell disease. It is the first cause of hospitalization. It is basically of nociceptive type. Patients with sickle cell disease can present various types of pain depending on the injured structures; the musculoskeletal type is the most frequent.

Objective:

To analyze the main therapeutic modalities for pain management in sickle cell disease.

Methods:

A literature review was carried out, in English and in Spanish, through the PubMed website and the Google Scholar search engine, of articles published in the last five years. Analysis and summary of the revised bibliography was made.

Information analysis and synthesis:

Currently, there are several treatment options. The basis for pain management is the recognition and evaluation of severity, since analgesic treatment will depend on this. Once pain is established, initial management should focus on providing rapid control, guaranteeing therapeutic doses of drugs, and avoiding the onset of complications.

Conclusion:

Adequate treatment and follow-up of patients with pain in sickle cell disease should be maintained, as this will reduce, as much as possible, the complications that the disease can cause in patients from an organic and psychological point of view.

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