Haematuria and sickle cell disease. A report of 12 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Haematuria in a patient with S-haemoglobin poses a serious challenge of diagnosis and treatment. The first problem is to determine whether the haematuria is incidental or whether it is truly related to the S-haemoglobin. The second is to stop further blood loss. Twelve cases of haematuria induced by sickle cell disease, diagnosed through positive urographic findings of papillary necrosis and successfully treated without any loss of kidney are presented. The pathophysiology of sickle cell-induced haematuria, its incidence rate, its diagnostic criteria and available modalities of treatment are also reviewed in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this lesion in our subregion. It is suggested that the diagnosis of sickle cell induced haematuria should be based on identifiable features and not merely by exclusion of other lesions.