Sickle cell crisis treated by exchange transfusion. Treatment of two patients with heterozygous sickle cell syndrome

M. Green, R. J. Hall, R. G. Huntsman, A. Lawson, T. C. Pearson and P. C. Wheeler

In two patients with severe painful sickle cell crisis and a deteriorating clinical course, recovery coincided with large-scale exchange transfusions (6 liters). The one patient, with sickle cell beta thalassemia, achieved a 90% exchange, calculated on the sickle cell hemoglobin present before and after transfusion. The other patient, with sickle cell hemoglobin Hb A, S, and (Hb) C disease, also achieved an 80% exchange calculated on the level of HbA.S. AND C in samples before and after transfusion.