
CT scan showed thickening of the ascending colon approximately 8.5 cm in length. A 62-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department of our hospital with chief complaint of right abdominal pain. We report on an ischemic colitis as a major GI complication for HbSC. However, a literature search (PubMed and Google search) do not show any report on gastrointestinal (GI) complications for these patients. Patients with hemoglobin SC (HbSC) may suffer from complications of several organs such as retina, bone, kidney, and spleen. In 11 patients (61%) with follow-up, malakoplakia resolved after treatment ( Figure 1). Two cases (11%) underwent resection of the mass/plaquelike lesions, while other cases were treated supportively. Seven of 18 (39%) had antibiotic treatment upon diagnosis.

One-third presented with a masslike lesion 61% (11/18) involved the genitourinary tract, 28% (5/18) gastrointestinal tract, 6% (1/18) abdominal soft tissue, and 6% (1/18) vagina. Four patients had positive results for microbiologic cultures.

Other clinical settings included systemic lupus erythematosus (1 case, 6%), diabetes mellitus (2 cases, 11%), and recurrent infection (4 cases, 22%) no significant medical history was noted for the remaining patients. Half of the patients were white, 44% were African American, and 6% were “other.” Four cases (22%) presented in the setting of organ transplants and 4 (22%) with malignancy (2 colon cancers, 1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 lymphoma).

Most occurred in women (78%) and all in adults (range, 31–87 years of age).
