RETINOPATHY IN HEMOGLOBIN-C TRAIT

Retinopathy associated with sickle-C and sickle fell disease is well d escribed, Sickle trait and haemoglobin C trait are generally considere d benign conditions, with infrequent systemic manifestations. Rare cas es of retinopathy in sickle trait, in the presence of contributory fac tors, exist and we recently reported three such patients, The occurren ce of retinopathy in haemoglobin C trait is even less well documented, Haemoglobin C does not cause red blood cell sickling but is known to decrease erythrocyte plasticity and increase blood viscosity, We repor t three cases in which haemoglobin C trait was associated with signifi cant peripheral vascular occlusion and seafan formation (confirmed by fluorescein angiography) similar to that seen in sickle retinopathy. T wo patients had coexistent systemic disease (hypertension and diabetes mellitus), Vitreous haemorrhage was the presenting feature in two pat ients, Tt is evident that haemoglobin C trait may be associated with s ight-threatening complications.