PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. M. Hutchinson
AU  - M. V. Merrick
AU  - J. M. White
TI  - Fat embolism in sickle cell disease
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.26.8.620
DP  - 1973 Aug 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 620--622
VI  - 26
IP  - 8
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/26/8/620.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/26/8/620.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1973 Aug 01; 26
AB  - 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 PO2, 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.