Splenic sepsis in sickle cell disease

Abstract

We describe two patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who developed infections situated in the spleen. One patient had a splenic abscess and 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 infarction. Splenic infections can occur in patients who might be considered to have an absent spleen and the diagnosis of splenic abscess should be considered in individuals with SCD who present with fever and abdominal pain.