Acute multiorgan failure syndrome is a severe, life-threatening complication of pain episodes
that may occur in patients with otherwise mild sickle cell disease. The syndrome appears to be
reversed with prompt, aggressive transfusion therapy. The onset of organ failure was
associated with fever,rapid fall in hemoglobin level and platelet count, nonfocal encephalopathy,
and rhabdomyolysis. Bacterial cultures are negative in most cases. Aggressive transfusion
therapy is associated with survival and with rapid recovery of organ function in most episodes.
The syndrome may develop in patients with previously exhibited relatively mild disease with little
evidence of chronic organ damage and may be recurrent. High baseline hemoglobin levels may
represent a predisposing factor.