Fat embolism in sickle cell disease.
Fat embolism is a known complication of marrow infarction in patients with sickle cell disease (Hb S/S and Hb S/C) disease. It should be considered in sickle cell crisis when there is deterioration in respiratory function, a fall in arterial PO(2), a normoblastaemia, and a thrombocytopenia in the peripheral blood. We now report a patient in whom the diagnosis was confirmed in life by identifying fat in the sputum, demonstrating disseminated intravascular coagulation, and using a double isotope technique to distinguish recent from old marrow infarction. Use of these features enabled an early diagnosis to be made which led to a successful outcome in a potentially fatal condition.
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D001791:Blood Platelet Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000175:diagnosis; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006644:Histiocytes; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013147:Spirometry; D013183:Sputum / Q000032:analysis; D013455:Sulfur; D013667:Technetium
D008055:Lipids; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013455:Sulfur; D013667:Technetium