title: Haematological factors associated with avascular necrosis of the femoral head in homozygous sickle cell disease.
abstract: The haematological indices in 50 patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease and avascular necrosis of the femoral head and in 180 patients with SS disease without this complication have been compared. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was significantly associated with high total haemoglobin levels and with low fetal haemoglobin levels. Low fetal haemoglobin levels are associated with increased intravascular sickling. These results suggest that both intravascular sickling and the increased viscosity associated with high haemoglobin levels are related to the development of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in SS disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006443:Hemoglobin A2 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006443:Hemoglobin A2; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin