Shamsudeen MOİDEEN, P.p. Baby MANOJ, Shahul HAMEED, Aysha KHADER, N.a. UVAİS

Splenic Infarction Due to Sickle Cell Trait while Visiting a Hill Station

Background: Sickle-cell trait SCT is a common genetic abnormality in the Indian population. Though SCT is largely a benign disorder, it can rarely present with complications such as splenic infarction. Case Presentation: Here, we report the case of a 27-year-old Muslim male developed acute left upper quadrant abdominal pain and constipation while visiting a hill station, Ooty Tamil Nadu, India . The patient had a history of similar complaint while visiting the same hill station while he was a student and was hospitalized and treated as acute gastritis. He also gave a history of abdominal pain while traveling in the airplane to Qatar where he works. Conclusion: Our patient had multiple episodes of abdominal pain while flying and visiting hill station, but the diagnosis of SCT was not suspected probably due to the above reasons. However, it is very important to evaluate patients with recurrent abdominal pain in higher altitudes for SCT as it can result in its early diagnosis of splenic infarction and timely initiation of appropriate management, which can lead to good prognosis.

Keywords:

Splenic infarction, sickle cell trait, hill station,

PDF

___

Serjeant GR, Ghosh K, Patel J. Sickle cell disease in India: A perspective. Indian J Med Res 2016;143(1):21-4
Seegars MB, Brett AS. Splenic infarction associated with sickle cell trait at low altitude. Hematology 2015;20(10):607-9
Tsaras G, Owusu-Ansah A, Boateng FO, Amoateng- Adjepong Y. Complications Associated with Sickle Cell Trait: A Brief Narrative Review. Am J Med 2009;122(6):507-512
Morishima A, Schofer JM, Pelletier P, McKee JM. Images in emergency medicine: splenic infarction due to sickle cell trait after climbing mt. Fuji. West J Emerg Med 2008;9(3):179
Kar B, Satapathy RK, Kulozik AE, Kulozik M, Sir S, Serjeant BE, et al . Sickle Cell Disease in Orissa state, India. Lancet ;2:1198-201
World Health Organization. Sickle cell anemia. Report by the secretariat. 59th World Health, Assembly, 2006
Colah R, Mukherjee M, Ghosh K. Sickle cell disease in India. Curr Opin Hematol 2014;21:215–23
Ashley-Koch A, Yang Q, Olney RS. Sickle hemoglobin (HbS) allele and sickle cell disease: a HUGE Review. Am J Epidemiol ;151: 839-845
Harkness DR. Sickle cell trait revisited. Am J Med 1989;87: N–4N
Abeysekera WY, de Silva WD, Pinnaduwa SS, Banagala AS. Acute massive splenic infarction with splenic vein thrombosis following altitude exposure of a Sri Lankan male with undetected sickle cell trait. High Alt Med Biol 2012;13(4):288- doi: 10.1089/ham.2012.1038
Gupta M, Lehl SS, Singh K, Singh R. Acute splenic infarction in a hiker with previously unrecognised sickle cell trait. BMJ Case Rep 2013;2013:bcr2013008931