Sickle-cell anaemia in Turkey. Evaluation of 97 cases (with parents' findings)

The haematological and clinical data in 97 sickle-cell anaemia cases and haematological findings of their parents are reported. In spite of the low Hb values of the patients, they tolerated their anaemia and very rarely required blood transfusions. The Hb F levels of the patients were in general higher than African origin SS anaemia patients but lower than the Shiite Saudi Arabians. However, in most of the cases the concentration of Hb F did not seem to influence the Hb concentration of the patients. Serum iron was found unexpectedly decreased in 22% of the patients. Osmotic fragility was found decreased in 100% of the patients and in 83.5% of the parents. The prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency was 21.2% in male patients and 15.6% in the parents.