1/3. Autologous immune complex nephritis associated with sickle cell trait: diagnosis of the haemoglobinopathy after renal structural and immunological studies.A renal tubular epithelial antigen (RTE)--anti-RTE autologous immune complex nephritis associated with sickle cell anaemia (SS) has been reported, but immune complex nephritis has never been described in patients with sickle cell trait (SA). During investigation of a child with "asymptomatic proteinuria" cryoprecipitable complexes of RTE-anti-RTE were detected in the serum and granular deposits of RTE, immunoglobulins, and complement localised on the glomerular basement membranes. Morphological and ultrastructural studies showed increased mesangial matrix, sickled red blood cells in the glomeruli and vessels, and tubular and interstitial abnormalities. These findings prompted haemoglobin electrophoretic studies, which showed previously undiagnosed haemoglobin SA in this patient and her family. These observations suggest that nephritis mediated by similar immunopathogenic mechanisms may be associated with SS and SA haemoglobinopathy. Under some conditions patients with sickle cell trait may experience haemodynamic and oxygenation abnormalities, which may be aetiological factors in the immune complex nephritis associated with SS disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. mitral valve replacement in a patient with sickle cell anaemia.cardiopulmonary bypass can be expected to cause problems in a patient with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) as such surgery is associated with various factors which may induce sickling and subsequent sickle cell crisis. This patient is only the second with SCA to have valve replacement performed, and is the seventh case reported in the English literature to have cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Hepatic abscess in sickle cell anaemia: a rare manifestation.A child with sickle cell anaemia developed a hepatic abscess, which was managed successfully by percutaneous drainage under ultrasound control. A history of attacks of pain dissimilar to usual vaso-occlusive crises should be treated with suspicion and investigated appropriately.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |