Haematological parameters associated with priapism in Nigerian patients with homozygous sickle cell disease

Haematological indices in 23 male homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with priapism were the subject of this study. Patients with priapism showed significantly higher haemoglobin and haematocrit levels than in controls (P <0.0005 in both cases). Fetal haemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the control group than in SCD patients with priapism (P <0.0005). The implications of these findings are discussed and it is suggested that the practice of managing some of these patients conservatively by the transfusion of packed red blood cells to build up their haemoglobin and haematocrit levels needs to be reviewed critically.