[Sickle-cell anemia. The liver lesions. A clinical, morphological and ultrastructural study of 21 cases]

Liver changes in patients with sickle cell anemia, for some authors, is a common finding and is hot in relation with the severity of the anemia. The grade of liner disfunction or malfunction is related with ischemia and, there exists probable, slowing of intrahepatic circulation secondary to sinusoidal obstruction due to masses of sickle cells and to the hypertrophy of Kupffer cells. In this paper, clinical morphologic and ultrastructural findings of 21 cases of SS and SA, hemoglobinopathies are presented. Sixty percent were females and forty percent were males with ages between 18 and 46 years. The most frequent microscopic findings were sinusoid distention followed by hypertrophy of Kupffer cells and inflammation. Areas of necrosis, fatty changes and iron deposits were also seen.