Nitrous Oxide & Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell anemia is a congenital condition that results in the deformation of the red blood cells. The cells look like sickles and have a difficult time getting through the blood vessels. Some people believe that nitrous oxide can help with this problem.

Significance

• Nitrous oxide causes the blood vessels to open or dilate. This dilation may become wide enough to allow sickle cells through the blood vessel.

Uses

• A study by Duke University Medical Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute found that the hemoglobin in the red blood cells could potential carry the nitrous oxide. Thus the sickle cells could carry the key to open the blood vessels on their own.

Precautions

• Because of the effect of nitrous oxide on the sickle cell patient, care should be taken when administering nitrous oxide anesthetic. Although the nitrous oxide does relieve the constriction caused by the sickle cells, the patient may have trouble after the nitrous effects have subsided and the blood vessels have gone back to regular size.

Considerations

• The work being performed on the connection between nitrous oxide and sickle cell anemia still is new. Any nitrous oxide treatment should be only performed under the guidance of a physician.

Clinical Trials

• A trial sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute began September 2001 and tests the therapeutic effects of inhaling nitrous oxide. The trial studies the specific effects on sickle cell patients with pulmonary hypertension or high blood pressure within the arteries that lead to the lungs.