MATERNAL DEATH DUE TO ACUTE NECROTIZING COLITIS IN HOMOZYGOUS SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

The case history is described of a 21-year-old female with homozygous sickle cell disease and fatal postpartum haemorrhage from the colon. A t autopsy many sickled cells were found in the arterioles of the mucos a and submucosa in combination with necrotic lesions and ulcerations o f the sigmoid colon. A causal association between occlusion of blood v essels by sickled cells and the occurrence of vascular necrosis of the sigmoid colon is suspected.