RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fat embolism in sickle cell disease
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 620
OP 622
DO 10.1136/jcp.26.8.620
VO 26
IS 8
A1 R. M. Hutchinson
A1 M. V. Merrick
A1 J. M. White
YR 1973
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/26/8/620.abstract
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.