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Clinical profile of sickle cell trait
1Medical Aid and Research Centre, Burla 768 017, Orissa.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|February 14, 2003
Summary
Sickle cell trait (SCT) is often wrongly blamed for illnesses. While anemia is not more common in SCT, conditions like hepatomegaly, epistaxis, and gallstones occur more frequently, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Genetics
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Sickle cell trait is commonly perceived as a benign condition.
- Numerous pathological conditions are often erroneously attributed to sickle cell trait.
- This study investigates the actual ailments associated with sickle cell trait.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the conditions and ailments present in individuals with sickle cell trait.
- To differentiate between conditions caused by sickle cell trait and those coincidental.
Main Methods:
- Studied 200 cases of sickle cell trait and 150 controls using sickling tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis.
- Conducted hemoglobin estimation, clinical examinations, and relevant investigations.
- Assessed prevalence of anemia, hepatomegaly, epistaxis, cholelithiasis, splenomegaly, and neurological events.
Main Results:
- Anemia was prevalent in both sickle cell trait (51%) and control (86%) groups, improving with iron therapy in trait cases.
- Hepatomegaly (11% vs 4.6%), epistaxis (5% vs 0.66%), and cholelithiasis (3% vs 0%) were significantly more common in sickle cell trait.
- Neurological events, including epilepsy and focal fits possibly linked to cerebral infarcts, were observed in sickle cell trait cases.
Conclusions:
- Ailments in sickle cell trait cases are comparable to those with normal hemoglobin.
- Anemia is not more frequent and responds to iron therapy.
- Increased frequency of hepatomegaly, epistaxis, cholelithiasis, and potential for minor cerebral infarcts in sickle cell trait require further investigation.