Hepatobiliary changes in Nigerians with sickle cell anaemia

Abstract

The histology of a liver specimen from the autopsy of each of 58 sickle cell anaemia patients aged 3-45 years was examined. Sinusoidal distension (present in all specimens), haemosiderosis and erythrophagocytosis (56), portal triaditis (47), cholestasis (24), focal necrosis and fibrosis (23), and extra-medullary erythropoiesis (3) were observed. The livers from the older patients (30-45 years) showed severe haemosiderosis, chronic inflammation, pigment stones and fatty change.