High-Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone Therapy for Pain in Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease

Acute painful episodes, often called vaso-occlusive crises, are the most frequent complication of sickle cell disease and are a common reason for visits to the emergency room and admission to the hospital 1 – 3 . In some patients, painful events account for a substantial amount of time lost from school or work. The mainstays of the management of painful episodes are hydration and the administration of analgesic agents, including opioid agents 4 – 6 . Many forms of treatment have been tried in an effort to decrease the incidence, severity, and duration of painful episodes, but none have gained widespread acceptance in clinical . . .