Differentiation Between Sickle Cell Anemia and S/β⁰ Thalassemia

37-year-old man of half African and half Italian ethnicity.

Sickle cell crisis (SCC).

The patient had severe pain in his lower back that radiated to both thighs. He had been admitted twice in the previous 2 weeks at another hospital due to SCC. Each time, he had been discharged with a prescription for oxycodone. His condition did not respond to the pain medicine; his pain remained uncontrollable.

The patient has had multiple sickle cell crises since childhood and is a former smoker. He denied alcohol consumption or illegal drug use.

The patient had normal vital signs. No splenomegaly was present.

Both parents carry sickle cell thalassemia.

Table 1, Table 2, and Image 1.