Newly Diagnosed Hemoglobin SC Disease Presenting With Choledocholithiasis With Acute Obstructive Cholangitis: A Case...

Hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC) is a sickle cell disease (SCD) that is considered to be mild compared to Hemoglobin SS (HbSS) disease. Both HbSS and HbSC can present with classic SCD complications such as hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive complications, functional aplenia, avascular necrosis, and cholelithiasis; however, HbSC generally has less severe and less frequent complications and can often be asymptomatic. As a result, HbSC is often underdiagnosed until a patient presents with a clinically significant complication. We present a case of newly diagnosed HbSC presenting with potentially life-threatening acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis. This case report serves to demonstrate that serious complications can occur in patients with HbSC. Additionally, early screening and diagnosis of HbSC in high-risk patients may allow for earlier treatment and potentially reduce the incidence of complications and increase patient quality of life.