Sickle cell anemias are chronic hemolytic diseases that may induce three types of acute accidents: severe anemia, severe bacterial infections, and ischemic vasoocclusive accidents (VOA) caused by sickle-shaped red blood cells obstructing small blood vessels and capillaries. Many diverse complications can occur.
Aortic dilatation refers to a dimension that is greater than the 95th percentile for the normal person age, sex and body size. In contrast, an aneurysm is defined as a localized dilation of the aorta that is more than 150 percent of predicted (ratio of observed to expected diameter 1.5 or more). Aneurysm should be distinguished from ectasia, which represents a diffuse dilation of the aorta less than 50 percent of normal aorta diameter.
The challenge of diagnosing the acute nontraumatic tetraplegia of a healthy young woman.
Genovese M, Todeschini A, Moratti C, Galassi G. Int J Neurosci. 2015;125(4):307-11.
Other causes that have been reported to occur with varying frequencies include thrombosis, embolism of thrombi and tumor, arteritis, hypotension, dissecting aortic aneurysm, sickle cell disease, intervertebral disk herniation, vertebral body subluxation and iatrogenic causes, usually angiography or surgery.
