Acute splenic rupture in an adult with homozygous sickle cell anemia treated with chronic transfusions.
Splenic rupture is a very rare event in adult homozygous sickle cell patients. The authors describe a 19-year-old patient with homozygous sickle cell disease who experienced an acute splenic rupture crisis requiring emergent splenectomy. He had been receiving chronic blood transfusions regularly for 7 years secondary to a previous stroke. It is possible that these transfusions contributed to regeneration of splenic red pulp, which allowed a crisis to occur at an advanced age.
Shoemaker
Michael T
MT
Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 2200 Bergquist Dr., Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, USA.
Pitney
Aaron C
AC
Harford
David J
DJ
Barker
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D065227:Transfusion Reaction