The Coexistence of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Sickle Cell-Hemoglobin C Disease

Abstract

The clinical and postmortem findings in a case of sickle cell-hemaglobin C disease complicated by acute rheumatic fever with accompanying carditis, and rheumatic pneumonitis are presented and discussed. This is believed to be the first such case reported. The recent literature pertaining to the cardiac manifestations of SS and SC hemoglobinopathies is briefly reviewed. A possible explanation for the failure of the rheumatic process to respond to conventional therapy in our patient is given.