Pathophysiology of stroke in sickle cell disease

Stroke affects both motor and cognitive function in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Symptomatic stroke is associated with intimal disease of the large cerebral arteries. Silent stroke, defined as cerebral infarction in the absence of overt clinical neurologic symptoms, is often due to microinfarcts suggestive of microvascular disease. While the natural history of stroke in SCD is well described, the pathophysiology remains poorly understood and probably varies with the site of vascular injury. Increased red cell adhesion, oxidative injury of the vessel wall, inflammation, abnormal vasomotor tone regulation, and increased activity of the coagulation system all may contribute to cerebral vasopathology in SCD.