Affiliations: [a] Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA | [b] Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA | [c] Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA | [d] Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Jeffrey A. Glassberg, MD, MA, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place Box 1620, New York, NY 10029, USA. Tel.: +1 212 241 3650; Fax: +1 212 426 1946; E-mail: Jeffrey.glassberg@mountsinai.org.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Pain is the most common complication of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Tissue oximetry properties in SCD during steady state and acute pain are not well described. METHODS:This was a cross sectional study of tissue oximetry properties in individuals with SCD during steady state, acute pain and healthy controls without SCD. A novel tissue oximetry device was used to better account for tissue pigmentation interference. We hypothesized that during acute SCD pain, blood volume to painful areas would be at least 10% less than steady state. Bayesian analyses of the data (with flat piors) were planned a priori because of the small projected sample size. RESULTS:The sample included 14 individuals (4 during crisis, 5 steady state, and 5 controls). In individuals with SCD, blood volume to the lower back was higher during crisis (0.18% of tissue volume vs. 0.14% ). Bayesian analyses yielded a 3% probability that our hypothesis (that blood volume would decrease by 10% ) was correct. CONCLUSIONS:During acute SCD pain, blood volume to painful areas is not decreased. Bayesian analyses were useful for interpretation of small sample data and may have utility in early phase trials for rare diseases.
