Sickle cell anemia

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Blood cells	Formed elements of blood	Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells	Red blood cells, normal
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer	Red blood cells, sickle cell	Red blood cells, sickle cells

Anemia - sickle cell; Hemoglobin SS disease (Hb SS); Sickle cell disease

Common symptoms include:

• paleness
• yellow eyes/skin
• fatigue
• breathlessness
• rapid heart rate
• delayed growth and puberty
• susceptibility to infections
• ulcers on the lower legs (in adolescents and adults)
• jaundice
• bone pain
• attacks of abdominal pain
• fever

The patient may also have:

• bloody urine (hematuria )
• frequent  urination
• excessive thirst
• painful erection (priapism; this occurs in 10-40% of men with the disease)
• chest pain
• poor eyesight/blindness

Tests commonly performed to diagnose and monitor patients with sickle cell anemia include:

• Complete blood count (CBC )
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis
• Sickle cell test

Patients with sickle cell may have abnormal results on certain tests, as follows:

• peripheral smear displaying sickle cells
• urinary casts or blood in the urine
• Hemoglobin; serum decreased
• elevated bilirubin
• high white blood cell count
• elevated serum potassium
• elevated serum creatinine
• blood oxygen saturation may be decreased
• CT scan or MRI can display strokes in certain circumstances

Review Date: 04/13/2005
Reviewed By: Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Harvard University