Case 34-1997

Abstract

Presentation of CaseA 22-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of respiratory distress and fever.The patient was known to have sickle cell disease but had had few problems during childhood except for priapism, which required surgical treatment. He had had malaria but had been otherwise generally well. He had received a single blood transfusion in his native Ghana before coming to this country 31 months before admission.In Boston the sickle cell crises became more frequent and more severe and often appeared to be precipitated by cold weather. The patient was admitted on multiple occasions to his . . .