Remembering the Basics: A Patient with Sickle Cell Disease and Proteinuria

Abstract

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) tend to develop many renal abnormalities, including concentration defect, renal papillary necrosis, and glomerulopathy that often presents with proteinuria. We report a case of a patient who presented with sickle cell crisis and proteinuria. A diagnosis of SCD glomerulopathy was confirmed with renal biopsy. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was initiated, and proteinuria rapidly reduced to 0.27 g/day. It is crucial for a clinician to recognize this important complication and take necessary precautions to delay progression to end-stage renal disease.