The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society
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A 27-year-old African-American female with known sickle cell disease was admitted for sickle cell crisis and presumed sepsis. The patient's past medical history was complicated by multiple sickle cell-related complications, including seizures and multiple prior blood transfusions. Her hospital course included Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia, for which broad spectrum antibiotics were prescribed. ⋯ Findings included numerous pathologic features ascribed to sickle cell disease, including systemic siderosis and splenic atrophy [weight 10 gm (140±78)], fibrosis, and Gamna Gandy nodules. Additional autopsy findings included cardiomegaly with a heart weight of 450 gm (312±78), right atrial and right ventricular chamber dilatation, and hepatomegaly with a liver weight of 2650 gm (1475±362). The image below demonstrates microscopic examination of the lung parenchyma.