The
pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (MacLean et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 178:1055–1059,
2008; Klings et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 173:1264–1269,
2006; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
2009). Despite this recognition, predictive markers of lung dysfunction progression remain elusive (Klings et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 173:1264–1269,
2006; Platt et al. N Engl J Med 330:1639–1644,
1994; Caboot et al. Curr Opin Pediatr 20:279–287,
2008; Field et al. Am J Hematol 83:574–576,
2008; Shirlo et al. Peadiatr Respir Review 12:78–82,
2011). This study was designed describe the longitudinal progression and identify specific markers that influence bronchial disease in SCD.