# Critical Illness-Associated Cerebral Microbleed in a Young Patient With Sickle Cell Disease

## TL;DR

A young sickle cell disease patient developed brain microbleeds during critical illness, likely due to hypoxia from acute chest syndrome and pneumonia.

## Contribution

This case report highlights CICM occurrence in a young sickle cell patient, expanding understanding of its clinical associations.

## Key findings

- The patient exhibited innumerable cerebral microhemorrhages on MRI consistent with CICM.
- CICM occurred in a young sickle cell patient with acute chest syndrome and pneumonia.
- The patient's poor mental status suggested neurological impact from CICM.

## Abstract

Critical illness-associated cerebral microbleeds (CICMs) are a recent clinical entity described as occurring in critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients, especially those with a risk of cerebral hypoxia. CICMs have been associated with progressive cognitive decline, and the management is supportive. We report the case of a 29-year-old male patient with sickle cell disease admitted for vaso-occlusive crises, which was complicated by multifocal pneumonia, and acute chest syndrome requiring intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation. He was noted to have poor mental status off sedation, with a brain MRI showing innumerable microhemorrhages throughout the bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, suggestive of CICM.