The sickle cell diseases. Clinical manifestations including the "sickle crisis".

Abstract

Working definitions of cell disease, sickle-cell trait, and sickle are given. The pathogenesis of the crisis is explained and the complications of the disease are presented in a quantitative manner. The need to look at the patient as a whole and to assess the natural history of the disease against the background of an often prevalent social and environmental pathologic condition is stressed. A call for effective public health measures, including raising of living standards and providing comprehensive health care facilities for sickle cell disease patients is made.