Genitourinary manifestations of sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVES

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common hereditary diseases, and migration trends and cross breeding have increased its incidence in Europe. While much has been published about the disease, there are few reviews in the literature dealing with its manifestations in the genitourinary system.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review, using as our main instrument the PubMed online database, on recent advances in knowledge of the pathophysiology and urological, nephrological, and andrological manifestations of the disease.

RESULTS

Manifestations include sickle cell nephropathy, enuresis, nocturia, hematuria, priapism, renal medullary carcinoma, and infarctions and necrosis in various organs of the genitourinary system.

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of this important disease and the multisystemic spectrum it covers make knowledge of its genitourinary manifestations necessary.