Pleural effusion in sickle cell disease

Pneumococcal and mycoplasma infection of the lung or pleura, infarction of lung or pleura, local abscess below the diaphragm, and heart, kidney, or pancreas involvement are among the many causes of pleural effusion. Several of these have an increased likelihood of occurrence in sickle cell disease as a direct consequence of sicklemia or of the functional asplenia which develops. A patient is presented in whom many of these considerations arose.