Cerebral Fat Emboli (CFE) in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Pathogenesis: bone marrow necrosis

Clinical features:

(1) non-focal neurological manifestations (altered level of consciousness, seizures, confusion)

(2) acute respiratory distress syndrome and/or shock (acute chest syndrome, other)

(3) fever

(4) thrombocytopenia

(5) elevated serum LDH concentration

(6) variable fundoscopic findings

(7) variable petechial hemorrhages

Susceptibility-weighted MRI shows the defects in brain.

Differential diagnosis:

(1) stroke due to large vessel occlusion