Case Report
IJMDC. 2023; 7(6): 958-961
Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report
Authors: Yousof Subhi Alaama, Suliaman A. Elyahia, Dunya Alfaraj, Mohammad A. Alhussain.
ABSTRACT
Background: An association between splenic infarction, high altitude, and different subtypes of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been reported in the literature, particularly sickle cell trait. However, none of these studies reported the possibility of splenic infarction as a presenting feature of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia. Case Presentation: A 23-year-old male college student presented to the emergency department with dull pain in the left upper quadrant and without any known history of medical illness. The patient was originally from Qatif, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and was referred to the study hospital with an ultrasound report showing splenic infarction. Upon presentation to the study hospital, the patient still had mild abdominal pain and early satiety. Examination revealed tachycardia (128/minute), upper abdominal tenderness, and splenomegaly approximately 2-3 cm below the left costal margin, with thrombocytosis and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Hemoglobin (HGB) electrophoresis showed hemoglobin A (HbA) 19.3; HbA2 4.9; hemoglobin F 12.9 and hemoglobin S 62.9, confirming a diagnosis of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia. The patient was started on IV hydration and therapeutic anticoagulation with enoxaparin 60 mg subcutaneously every 12 hours. The patient’s symptoms improved. Therefore, the patient was discharged on life-long apixaban (5 mg PO Bid), with close follow-up at the hematology clinic. Conclusion: Splenic infarction could be manifested as an isolated feature in patients with SCD and its subtypes, such as sickle cell beta+ thalassemia. Therefore, physicians should pay careful attention to these complications and consider HGB electrophoresis as a part of the workup.
Keywords:
Sickle cell trait, sickle cell/ beta thalassemia+, high altitude, splenic infarction.
Authors
Yousof Subhi Alaama
College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
PubMed articlesGoogle scholar articles
Suliaman A Elyahia
College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
PubMed articlesGoogle scholar articles
Dunya Alfaraj
Emergency Medicine and Clinical Research, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
PubMed articlesGoogle scholar articles
Mohammad A Alhussain
College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
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Correspondence to:
. Yousof Subhi Alaama, college of medicine, imam abdrulrahman bin fasial university, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.; yousof_alama@hotmail.com
Publication history
Received 12 Jan 2023
Accepted 17 Jan 2023
Published online 01 Feb 2023
Published in print 13 Mar 2023
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Alaama YS, Elyahia SA, Alfaraj D, Alhussain MA. Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. IJMDC. 2023; 7(6): 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
Web Style
Alaama YS, Elyahia SA, Alfaraj D, Alhussain MA. Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=138861 [Access: May 28, 2023]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
AMA (American Medical Association) Style
Alaama YS, Elyahia SA, Alfaraj D, Alhussain MA. Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. IJMDC. 2023; 7(6): 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
Vancouver/ICMJE Style
Alaama YS, Elyahia SA, Alfaraj D, Alhussain MA. Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. IJMDC. (2023), [cited May 28, 2023]; 7(6): 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
Harvard Style
Alaama, Y. S., Elyahia, . S. A., Alfaraj, . D. & Alhussain, . M. A. (2023) Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. IJMDC, 7 (6), 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
Turabian Style
Alaama, Yousof Subhi, Suliaman A. Elyahia, Dunya Alfaraj, and Mohammad A. Alhussain. 2023. Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 7 (6), 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
Chicago Style
Alaama, Yousof Subhi, Suliaman A. Elyahia, Dunya Alfaraj, and Mohammad A. Alhussain. "Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 7 (2023), 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style
Alaama, Yousof Subhi, Suliaman A. Elyahia, Dunya Alfaraj, and Mohammad A. Alhussain. "Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 7.6 (2023), 958-961. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
Alaama, Y. S., Elyahia, . S. A., Alfaraj, . D. & Alhussain, . M. A. (2023) Splenic infarction as a first clinical manifestation of sickle cell/beta+ thalassemia: a case report. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 7 (6), 958-961. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1673531598
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