Clinical haematology · UKMLA & AKT
Sickle cell trait and variants
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
Reticulocyte count is the key discriminator: LOW in aplastic crisis (bone marrow arrest); HIGH in haemolytic and sequestration crises (red cell destruction/trapping with marrow response).
Aplastic crisis - parvovirus B19 infects erythroid progenitors, transiently arresting red cell production. Sickle cell patients are uniquely vulnerable because they depend on rapid red cell turnover. Reticulocytopenia + severe anaemia + recent febrile illness (±slapped cheek rash) = aplastic crisis until proven otherwise.
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