DONT FORGET SICKLED CELLS IN THE URINE WHEN INVESTIGATING A PATIENT FOR HEMATURIA

Haematuria is a well-known complication of sickle cell disease. A Sout h African coloured patient with repeated episodes of gross haematuria is described in whom the diagnosis of sickle cell disease was suggeste d after the finding of sickled erythrocytes in the. urine sediment. Th e diagnosis was then confirmed by haemoglobin electrophoresis, which r evealed sickle cell trait (Hb-AS). It is concluded that sickled erythr ocytes must be looked for when urine is microscopically scrutinized to determine the source of a haematuria.