When Pain Crisis Turns Lethal: A Case Report of Fat Embolism Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare, life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), often underrecognized due to overlap with acute chest syndrome, sepsis, and thrombotic microangiopathies. We report a 37-year-old man with sickle cell disease who presented with an acute vaso-occlusive crisis and rapidly deteriorated with respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and neurological dysfunction. Common etiologies including pulmonary embolism, infection, and stroke were excluded. Laboratory evidence of hemolysis, cytopenias, elevated ferritin, and acute cor pulmonale suggested systemic FES secondary to bone marrow necrosis. The patient underwent urgent red cell exchange transfusion, followed by therapeutic plasma exchange and corticosteroids, resulting in significant clinical and hemodynamic recovery. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and aggressive multimodal therapy in SCD-FES.

P095 Acquired Bartter syndrome secondary to subclinical Sjögren’s disease with a positive anti-Ro antibody, unmasked during pregnancy: a case report
Rheumatology advances in practice1 Nov 2026Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
Cerebellar Ataxia, Neuropathy, and Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome (CANVAS): A case report of RFC1-associated disease
Dhanush Amin, Raman Deep, Vidhi Dhaduk +2
Radiology case reports3 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
Lethal Suspected DICER1 Syndrome Spectrum in Neonate with CPAM Type IV/Type I PPB, Genitourinary Abnormalities, and CNS Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes
Rachel Guest, John Van Arnam, Darryl Kinnear +5
Pediatric and Developmental Pathology30 May 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textSurgery & anaesthesiaPMC
Severe Colchicine Toxicity After Ingestion of a Dose Below Traditionally Reported Lethal Levels: A Case Report
Seena Sugathan, Vishalini Ammampalayam Venkatachalam, Aisha Khan +1
Cureus16 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
Acute Sheehan Syndrome Presenting as Panhypopituitarism and Reversible Cardiac Dysfunction in a Patient With Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report.
Rawan Abdulrahman, Alya Alhajjaj
Cureus28 Sep 2026Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textEndocrinology & metabolismEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{alwaheed2026when,
  title = {{When Pain Crisis Turns Lethal: A Case Report of Fat Embolism Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease}},
  author = {Abrar J. Alwaheed},
  journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15208194},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8194},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - When Pain Crisis Turns Lethal: A Case Report of Fat Embolism Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease
AU  - Abrar J. Alwaheed
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15208194
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8194
AB  - Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare, life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), often underrecognized due to overlap with acute chest syndrome, sepsis, and thrombotic microangiopathies. We report a 37-year-old man with sickle cell disease who presented with an acute vaso-occlusive crisis and rapidly deteriorated with respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and neurological dysfunction. Common etiologies including pulmonary embolism, infection, and stroke were excluded. Laboratory evidence of hemolysis, cytopenias, elevated ferritin, and acute cor pulmonale suggested systemic FES secondary to bone marrow necrosis. The patient underwent urgent red cell exchange transfusion, followed by therapeutic plasma exchange and corticosteroids, resulting in significant clinical and hemodynamic recovery. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and aggressive multimodal therapy in SCD-FES.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -