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

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.