Splenopathy in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Splenopathy with sickle cell disease refers to disorders that require medical care and surgical treatment. It is common in patients with sickle cell disease. The genotype of patients with sickle cell disease could affect the characteristics of splenopathy. Patients with sickle cell anemia genotype mainly experience auto-splenectomy, while those with sickle cell thalassemia have splenomegaly. Splenopathy requires careful observations by the hematologists and surgeons, especially in emergencies as it could prove fatal. Splenic infarction is the main reason for splenopathy in patients with sickle cell disease; however, it does not explain the unresolved important clinical issues. Research is still going on to explore more about the relationships between sickle cell hemoglobinopathy and splenopathy.