Related Experiment Videos
Empyema of gallbladder in a child with homozygous sickle-cell disease
A Singhal1, N Raju, G R Serjeant
1Medical Research Council Laboratories, Jamaica.
The West Indian Medical Journal
|December 1, 1990
Insights
Sickle-cell disease (SCD) patients frequently develop gallstones. This case report details a 13-year-old with SCD experiencing symptomatic gallbladder empyema, a rare complication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder.
- Gallstones are a common complication in children with SCD.
- Homozygous SCD (SS disease) affects hemoglobin function.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old male with a history of SS disease and gallstones was studied.
- The patient presented with empyema of the gallbladder.
- This occurred after a 3-year history of known gallstones.
Findings:
- Gallstones affect 30% of children with SS disease in this cohort.
- This is the first reported case of symptomatic gallbladder empyema in a pediatric SCD patient.
- The patient's condition highlights a rare but severe complication.
Implications:
- Early detection and management of gallstones in SCD patients are crucial.
- Symptomatic gallbladder disease requires prompt attention in pediatric SCD.
- Further research into SCD complications is warranted.
Abstract:
A 13-year-old boy with homozygous sickle-cell (SS) disease followed from birth in a cohort study of sickle-cell disease developed empyema of the gallbladder after a known 3-year history of gallstones. At this age, gallstones occur in 30% of cohort study children with SS disease but this is the first patient with specific symptoms.