Sickle cell-induced peripheral neuropathy following spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery

SICKLE cell disease is a group of hematologic disorders caused by a single base substitution of the P-globin subunit of hemoglobin. When deoxygenated, the affected erythrocytes can polymerize, metamorphosing from flexible nou rishing cells to unyielding obstacles that occlude blood flow and result in tissue and nerve ischemia. Affecting 1 of every 600 African-Americans and a significant percentage of African, Mediterranean, and Indian individuals, sickle cell disease is the most common clinically significant hemoglobinop athy in the United States.' We report a case of a lower extremity periphera l neuropathy induced by a sickle cell vasoocclusive crisis after spinal ane sthesia for cesarean delivery.