The conjunctival sign in sickle cell anaemia: a relationship with irreversibly sickled cells

ABSTRACT

Patients with sickle cell disease were divided into 5 groups according to the extent of abnormal vessels in the conjunctival vasculature. There was a significant relationship between the degree of abnormality and the number of irreversibly sickled cells, suggesting that these cells must be related to the genesis of these vessel anomalies. Evidence is accumulating that irreversibly sickled cells are related to several pathological processes in sickle cell anaemia, and we believe the sign may be useful not only in suggesting the diagnosis but also in gauging the severity of the condition (AU)