Yeruva et al identified risk factors for renal failure in a patient with sickle cell disease. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from interventions to reduce the risk. The authors are from Howard University Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh.
Patient selection: sickle cell disease
Risk factors for chronic kidney disease:
(1) proteinuria (odds ratio 3.1)
(2) acute renal failure (odds ratio 3.0)
(3) hypertension (odds ratio 1.7)
(4) male gender (odds ratio 1.7)
(5) older age (OR 1.04 per year)
(6) diabetes mellitus (odds ratio 1.8)
(7) blood transfusion (odds ratio 1.7)
Risk factors for acute renal failure:
(1) chronic kidney disease (acute-on-chronic; odds ratio 2.0)
(2) hypertension (odds ratio 1.7)
(3) sickle cell crisis (odds ratio 2.2)
(4) male gender (odds ratio 1.7)
(5) older age (OR 1.02 per year)
(6) chronic heart disease (odds ratio 1.7)
(7) diabetes (odds ratio 1.7)
It is important to monitor sickle cell disease patients for renal disease. If renal disease is detected then it is important to manage aggressively to reduce progression.
