Abstract
Recently emphasis in the problem of sickle hemoglobinopathy has been on mass screening of the black population. Concern about the alleged danger in having sickle cell trait itself is offered as part of the justification. This danger is disputed and a position developed for the benign status of sickle cell trait and the potentially serious social harm to blacks so identified. Programs are suggested to foster improved medical care availability and early detection for those with sickle cell anemia. It is suggested that mandatory patient programs be avoided, and that research receive greater emphasis.
Full text
PDF





Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- ALLISON A. C. Observations on the sickling phenomenon and on the distribution of different haemoglobin types in erythrocyte populations. Clin Sci. 1956 Nov;15(4):497–510. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bickerstaff E. R., Holmes J. M. Cerebral arterial insufficiency and oral contraceptives. Br Med J. 1967 Mar 25;1(5542):726–729. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5542.726. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Binder R. A., Jones S. R. Prevalence and awareness of sickle cell hemoglobin in a military population. Determination by a rapid screening method. JAMA. 1970 Nov 2;214(5):909–911. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Blank A. M., Freedman W. L. Sickle cell trait and pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1969 Mar;12(1):123–133. doi: 10.1097/00003081-196903000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CHARACHE S., CONLEY C. L. RATE OF SICKLING OF RED CELLS DURING DEOXYGENATION OF BLOOD FROM PERSONS WITH VARIOUS SICKLING DISORDERS. Blood. 1964 Jul;24:25–48. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CONN H. O. Sickle-cell trait and splenic infarction associated with high-altitude flying. N Engl J Med. 1954 Sep 9;251(11):417–420. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195409092511102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- COOLEY J. C., PETERSON W. L., ENGEL C. E., JERNIGAN J. P. Clinical triad of massive splenic infarction, sicklemia trait, and high altitude flying. J Am Med Assoc. 1954 Jan 9;154(2):111–113. doi: 10.1001/jama.1954.02940360009003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FARRER J. F., GOODWIN W. E. Treatment of priapism: comparison of methods in fifteen cases. J Urol. 1961 Dec;86:768–775. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(17)65259-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grace D. A., Winter C. C. Priapism: an appraisal of management of twenty-three patients. J Urol. 1968 Mar;99(3):301–310. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(17)62697-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greenwald J. G. Stroke, sickle cell trait, and oral contraceptives. Ann Intern Med. 1970 Jun;72(6):960–960. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-72-6-960_1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holzmann L., Finn H., Lichtman H. C., Harmel M. H. Anesthesia in patients with sickle cell disease: a review of 112 cases. Anesth Analg. 1969 Jul-Aug;48(4):566–572. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones S. R., Binder R. A., Donowho E. M., Jr Sudden death in sickle-cell trait. N Engl J Med. 1970 Feb 5;282(6):323–325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197002052820607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Knochel J. P. Hematuria in sickle cell trait: the effect of intravenous administration of distilled water, urinary alkalinization, and diuresis. Arch Intern Med. 1969 Feb;123(2):160–165. doi: 10.1001/archinte.123.2.160. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Konotey-Ahulu F. I. Anaesthetic deaths and the sickle-cell trait. Lancet. 1969 Feb 1;1(7588):267–268. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91287-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kuller L., Lilienfeld A., Fisher R. Sudden and unexpected deaths in young adults. An epidemiological study. JAMA. 1966 Oct 17;198(3):248–252. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MCCURDY P. R. ABNORMAL HEMOGLOBINS AND PREGNANCY. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1964 Dec 1;90:891–896. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(64)90783-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martinez M., Sharma T. C., MacDonald G., Smyth N. P. Operative management of priapism secondary to sickle cell trait. Arch Surg. 1969 Jan;98(1):81–82. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1969.01340070099020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Masi A. T., Dugdale M. Cerebrovascular diseases associated with the use of oral contraceptives. A review of the English-language literature. Ann Intern Med. 1970 Jan;72(1):111–121. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-72-1-111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Oduntan S. A., Isaacs W. A. Anaesthesia in patients with abnormal haemoglobin syndromes: a preliminary report. Br J Anaesth. 1971 Dec;43(12):1159–1166. doi: 10.1093/bja/43.12.1159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Petrakis N. L., Wiesenfeld S. L., Sams B. J., Collen M. F., Cutler J. L., Siegelaub A. B. Prevalence of sickle-cell trait and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. N Engl J Med. 1970 Apr 2;282(14):767–770. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197004022821402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Platt H. S. Effect of maternal sickle-cell trait on perinatal mortality. Br Med J. 1971 Nov 6;4(5783):334–336. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5783.334. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ROTTER R., LUTTGENS W. F., PETERSON W. L., STOCK A. E., MOTULSKY A. G. Splenic infarction in sicklemia during airplane flight: pathogenesis, hemoglobin analysis and clinical features of six cases. Ann Intern Med. 1956 Feb;44(2):257–270. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-44-2-257. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SCHENK E. A. SICKLE CELL TRAIT AND SUPERIOR LONGITUDINAL SINUS THROMBOSIS. Ann Intern Med. 1964 Mar;60:465–470. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-60-3-465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SMITH E. W., CONLEY C. L. Sicklemia and infarction of the spleen during aerial flight; electrophoresis of the hemoglobin in 15 cases. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1955 Jan;96(1):35–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SULLIVAN B. H., Jr Danger of airplane flight to persons with sicklemia. Ann Intern Med. 1950 Feb;32(2):338–342. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-32-2-338. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Salmon M. L., Winkelman J. Z., Gay A. J. Neuro-ophthalmic sequelae in users of oral contraceptives. JAMA. 1968 Sep 30;206(1):85–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sickle-cell trait and sudden death. N Engl J Med. 1970 Nov 26;283(22):1229–1231. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197011262832221. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Vessey M. P., Doll R. Investigation of relation between use of oral contraceptives and thromboembolic disease. Br Med J. 1968 Apr 27;2(5599):199–205. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5599.199. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
