BSH 2022 | The management of pediatric and adult patients with SCD

Sanne Lugthart, MD, PhD, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK, outlines current management strategies for pediatric and adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). In children, this includes transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening and treatment with hydroxycarbamide while in adults, treatment consists of hydroxycarbamide, crizanlizumab or transfusions depending on the severity of the disease. In addition, Dr Lugthart explains that as new treatment strategies are becoming available in the UK, clinicians will be able to combine different drugs to improve patient outcomes. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that the only curative strategy for SCD is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is known to cause important complications. According to Dr Lugthart, it is important to develop strategies to reduce both the acute and long-term side effects of transplantation. This interview took place at the 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Society for Haematology (BSH) 2022, in Manchester, UK.