How benign is sickle cell trait?

How benign is sickle cell trait?

The complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) arise from the presence in red cells of the mutated haemoglobin, HbS, which replaces the normal adult Hb,HbA. HbS has a single amino acid substitutionwhereby valine replaces glutamic acid in the 6th codon of the β chain. Most SCD patients inherit two copies of the sickle gene (homozygous HbSS individuals sometimes termed sickle cell anaemia, SCA). ...

Sickle Cell Trait: A Benign State?

BACKGROUND Sickle cell trait (SCT) is the heterozygous form of sickle cell disease and expectedly should be a benign state with no complications ascribed to it. There are numerous reports challenging its being a benign condition, though this is controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS A review of the results of the accompanying investigations done on some of the patients show that beta thalassemia ...

Sickle cell trait: not as benign as once thought

We describe a case of renal papillary necrosis in a middle-aged female with sickle cell trait who presented with gross hematuria. We wish to highlight this case for several reasons. Sickle cell trait is often viewed as a benign condition despite the fact that it is associated with significant morbidity such as renal papillary necrosis and renal medullary carcinoma. Appropriate evaluation needs ...

Sickle cell trait.

Sickle cell trait can pose a grave risk for some athletes. In the past few years, exertional sickling has killed nine athletes, including five college football players in training. Exercise-physiology research shows how and why sickle red cells can accumulate in the bloodstream during intense exercise bouts. Sickle cells can "logjam" blood vessels and lead to collapse from ischemic rhabdomyolys...

Sickle cell trait and frostbite.