Splenic infarction in a white man with sickle cell trait

We report the third case of splenic infarction from sickle cell trait in a young white man traveling through mountains. Apparently the hypoxemia at 10,800 feet, along with a relatively high hemoglobin S concentration of 40%, interacted with the known conditions of splenic blood flow to cause sickling and infarction, even though our patient was not exercising. The optimal management for this rare complication of sickle cell trait remains unknown, but surgery may not be required for either diagnosis or therapy.