Abstract
The pathophysiology of sickle cell nephropathy is still unclear (1,2); until recently, even the histopathology, electronmicroscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy were uncertain (3,4). Therefore, means of prevention and effective treatment have not yet been established. This paper reviews the data of various experimental studies, mainly ours, and relates them to findings already reported in patients with sickle cell disease and trait. Finally, a hypothesis will be advanced for a pathophysiological explanation of sickle cell nephropathy, and based on this, a rational approach to prevention, identification, and treatment will be presented.