Sickle cell


title: Sickle Cell Disease tags: #FFICM notebook: 🌑-FFICM type: inprogress


source: bmj-on-examination

Flashcard type:basic
What is the structural change in haemoglobin that results in sickle cell disease? The beta chain, at position 6, gets glutamic acid swapped out for valine
In sickle cell disease, what does HbAS mean? You have heterozygous disease (you are a carrier)
In sickle cell disease, what does HbSS mean? You have homozygous disease (you have sickle cell)
In sickle cell disease, what does HbSC mean? You have mild disease, sickle cell plus another haemoglobinopathy
In sickle cell disease, what is the short code for haemoglobin meaning you have proper sickle cell disease? HbSS
In sickle cell disease, what is the short code for haemoglobin meaning you have sickle cell trait? HbAS
In sickle cell disease, what is the short code for haemoglobin meaning you have mild sickle cell disease (plus haemoglobin C)? HbSC
In sickle cell disease, what triggers the erythrocyte to "sickle"? Low PO2 makes abnormal haemoglobin polymerise
In sickle cell disease, how low does your PO2 need to be to cause sickling, if you have the HbSS form? 5-6kPa
In sickle cell disease, how low does your PO2 need to be to cause sickling, if you have the HbAS form? 2.5-4kPa
In sickle cell disease, how low does your PO2 need to be to cause sickling, if you have the HbSC form? Around 4kPa
Does the sickledex test in sickle cell disease tell you if you have sickle cell or sicle trait? No, it just detects presence of HbS
What is the name of the test that detects if you have sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease? Haemoglobin electrophoresis