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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, E-ISSN: 2249-8109

 Volume 1, Issue 2, 2011 pp 65-73

Date of Publish: 26 November 2011

Research Article

Sickle Cell Disease Presenting As Sudden Death: Autopsy Findings of 5 Cases

R. D. Hanmante¹, K. S. Dhumure², K. D. Sawaimul³, S. W. Chopde², N.R. Kumbhakarna⁴, R.S.Bindu⁵

¹Assistant Professor,  Dept. of  Pathology, Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded (MS) INDIA.

²Resident, Dept. of Pathology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad (MS) INDIA.

³Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad (MS) INDIA.

⁴Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad (MS) INDIA.

⁵Head & Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad (MS) INDIA

Academic Editor:  Dr. Pawar D.D.

Vasoocclusive crisis or sickle cell crisis is a common painful complication of sickle cell disease in adolescent & adult. Acute episodes of severe pain (crises) are the primary reason that these patients seek medical care in hospital emergency department. Delay or ignorance to this condition is fatal.

It is a retrospective study of 5 cases. These cases were brought dead to casualty at Government Medical College & Hospital, Aurangabad. Of these 5 cases, 3 had history of chest pain. After post-mortem examination, the specimens were sent for histopathological examination. The sections of the specimens were studied.

Histological examination shows widespread sickling of red blood cells. .?Aggrevating factors leads to hypoxemia which further leads to sickling of red blood cells causing the vasoocclusive crisis & ultimately death of the patient.

Of these 5 cases, 4 were not investigated haematologically & biochemically previously, the diagnosis of sickle cell disease made after post-mortem histological examination.

It is concluded that, Vasoocclusive crises due to sickle cell can lead to sudden death in previously undiagnosed sickle cell trait / disease patients.