Priapism in homozygous sickle cell patients: important clinical and laboratory associations

To evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of priapism and important steady-state clinical and laboratory parameters in homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD).

Steady-state clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the medical records of 126 male patients seen in the clinic over a 7-year period. Estimated prevalence rates, correlation coefficients and independent t tests were calculated to assess the relationship between priapism and several important clinical and laboratory indices. Patient data on age, haemoglobin concentrations, the frequency of crises per annum, leucocyte counts, platelet counts, serum bilirubin and aspartate transaminase were evaluated.

The prevalence of priapism was determined to be 21.4%, and 22.2% of those affected had erectile dysfunction. There was a significant positive correlation between priapism and older age (p = 0.049) and lower leucocyte counts (p = 0.008). There was no significant relationship with other clinical or laboratory indices.

About 1 in 4 of all homozygous older SCD patients had priapism, and an approximately similar ratio developed erectile dysfunction; they also had lower steady-state leucocyte counts. Other clinical and laboratory indicators of disease severity in SCD did not positively correlate with the occurrence of priapism, and this may imply an alternative pathogenetic mechanism.