Jagroo Javed, Oudit Omar A, Knowles Corey, Adidam Venkata Srikanth
Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA.
Neurology, Downstate Neurology at One Brooklyn Health, Brooklyn, USA.
Cureus. 2025 Mar 14;17(3):e80558. doi: 10.7759/cureus.80558. eCollection 2025 Mar.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent hemoglobinopathy that leads to various complications, including hepatobiliary diseases, which are often underrecognized. Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, resulting from accelerated pigment gallstone formation due to increased hemolysis, are common in SCD patients. This case series aims to raise awareness of the heightened risk of biliary disease in SCD and emphasize the need for early screening and management strategies. We present four cases of adult SCD patients who developed gallstones, each requiring medical intervention for biliary complications. The first case involved a 47-year-old woman with SCD and choledocholithiasis, presenting with right upper quadrant pain and jaundice. She underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for stone removal. The second case described a 25-year-old woman with a history of SCD, who had hyperbilirubinemia and dilated common hepatic duct. She successfully underwent ERCP and laparoscopic cholecystectomy after cholelithiasis was confirmed. The third case involved a 34-year-old man with acute abdominal pain and right-sided testicular pain, diagnosed with gallstones and early cholecystitis. Despite plans for surgery, he signed out against medical advice. The fourth case was a 28-year-old woman with recurrent acute chest syndrome, who presented with abdominal pain and was found to have multiple gallstones. She underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but developed acute chest syndrome postoperatively, requiring exchange transfusion. All patients experienced post-surgical recovery, although one patient had complications related to acute chest syndrome. Hepatobiliary manifestations in SCD include cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, and other liver-related issues. The formation of pigmented gallstones is a direct result of chronic hemolysis, where increased bilirubin levels contribute to stone formation. The incidence of cholelithiasis in SCD patients is significant, with factors such as hemoglobin levels and bilirubin elevation increasing the likelihood of gallstone formation. Symptomatic gallstones often present with right upper quadrant pain, which can be exacerbated by vaso-occlusive crises. Early intervention, including elective cholecystectomy, can help prevent complications like choledocholithiasis, biliary colic, and cholecystitis. Despite a lack of formal guidelines for routine cholecystectomy in asymptomatic patients, evidence supports early surgical management to prevent further complications and reduce the need for emergent procedures. This case series highlights the importance of early screening and elective cholecystectomy for SCD patients at risk of biliary disease. Early intervention can prevent acute complications, reduce hospitalizations, and improve the quality of life for patients with SCD. Future research and guidelines should focus on establishing protocols for screening and management of gallstone-related hepatobiliary complications in this population.
镰状细胞病(SCD)是一种常见的血红蛋白病,可导致各种并发症,包括肝胆疾病,而这些疾病往往未得到充分认识。由于溶血增加导致色素性胆结石形成加速,胆石症和胆总管结石在SCD患者中很常见。本病例系列旨在提高对SCD患者胆道疾病高风险的认识,并强调早期筛查和管理策略的必要性。我们介绍了4例成年SCD患者发生胆结石的病例,每例均因胆道并发症需要医疗干预。第一例是一名47岁患有SCD和胆总管结石的女性,表现为右上腹疼痛和黄疸。她接受了腹腔镜胆囊切除术和内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)以取出结石。第二例描述了一名有SCD病史的25岁女性,她有高胆红素血症和肝总管扩张。在确诊胆结石后,她成功接受了ERCP和腹腔镜胆囊切除术。第三例是一名34岁患有急性腹痛和右侧睾丸疼痛的男性,被诊断为胆结石和早期胆囊炎。尽管计划进行手术,但他不听从医嘱擅自出院。第四例是一名患有复发性急性胸综合征的28岁女性,她出现腹痛,被发现有多个胆结石。她接受了腹腔镜胆囊切除术,但术后发生了急性胸综合征,需要进行换血治疗。所有患者术后均康复,尽管有一名患者出现了与急性胸综合征相关的并发症。SCD的肝胆表现包括胆石症、胆总管结石和其他肝脏相关问题。色素性胆结石的形成是慢性溶血的直接结果,胆红素水平升高有助于结石形成。SCD患者中胆石症的发病率很高,血红蛋白水平和胆红素升高 等因素增加了胆结石形成的可能性。有症状的胆结石通常表现为右上腹疼痛,血管闭塞性危象可使其加重。早期干预,包括择期胆囊切除术,有助于预防胆总管结石、胆绞痛和胆囊炎等并发症。尽管对于无症状患者进行常规胆囊切除术缺乏正式指南,但证据支持早期手术管理以预防进一步并发症并减少急诊手术的必要性。本病例系列强调了对有胆道疾病风险的SCD患者进行早期筛查和择期胆囊切除术的重要性。早期干预可以预防急性并发症,减少住院次数,并改善SCD患者的生活质量。未来的研究和指南应侧重于制定该人群胆结石相关肝胆并发症的筛查和管理方案。