Survey of sickle cell disease in the Netherlands

Through a questionnaire data were collected from 116 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the Netherlands, about two thirds of all the patients with SCD in the country. Sixty-four percent of the patients are of Surinamese origin, 14% come from the Netherlands Antilles, 11% come from Turkey, and 11% from elsewhere. Two thirds of the patients live in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Sixty-seven were children and 49 were adults. Sickle cell anaemia (SS disease) was found in 74, sickle cell beta thalassaemia (S beta thal) in 18, and sickle cell haemoglobin C(SC)-disease in 24 patients. Clinical features and treatment are discussed and the data are compared with the results of similar studies in other European countries.