Fat embolism syndrome associated with asthma and sickle cell-beta(+)-thalassemia

A 25-year-old African-American man with sickle cell-beta(+)-thalassemia presented with acute asthma of 2 days' duration. The asthma was well controlled by 48 hr, and parenteral medications were changed to oral bronchodilators and steroids. Sixty hours after presentation, he developed pain similar to that of sickle cell vaso-occlusion, for which he received small amounts of analgesics. He died approximately 84 hours after presentation. Autopsy showed extensive marrow necrosis and massive fat embolism. This is the first reported case of fat embolism syndrome associated with this genotype, the mildest of the clinically significant sickle cell hemoglobinopathies. The relationship between these etiologic factors and indications for transfusions are discussed.