SPLENIC SEPSIS IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

We describe two patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who developed infections situated in the spleen. One patient had a splenic abscess a nd there was strong clinical evidence for an infected splenic infarct in the second patient. SCD predisposes to splenic infection because of functional hyposplenism, defective phagocyte function and splenic inf arction. Splenic infections can occur in patients who might be conside red to have an absent spleen and the diagnosis of splenic abscess shou ld be considered in individuals with SCD who present with fever and ab dominal pain.