Premium
Splenic function in children with sickle cell disease: Two different patterns in Saudi Arabia
Author(s) -
Babiker M.A.,
ElHazmi M.A.F.,
AlJobori A.M.,
Obeid H.,
Bahakim H.M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1985.tb01570.x
Subject(s) - disease , medicine , cell , spleen , pediatrics , pathology , immunology , biology , genetics
Splenic function in 35 Saudi children homozygous for sickle cell disease (age range 3–9 years) was studied using radioactive colloid scans. Two different patterns emerged. Splenic dysfunction was demonstrated in more than 80% of children who were originally from the south‐western part of the country. They were found to have low HbF levels. In contrast normal or nearly normal splenic function was found in all patients from the Eastern Province in whom HbF levels were high. These different patterns of splenic function may contribute to the severe and mild forms of sickle cell disease seen in Saudi Arabia.