Hematuria and Cholethiasis With β-Thalassemia

Abstract

To the Editor.— Since the report of Goodwin et al 1 in 1950 of painless hematuria associated with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy, numerous reports have confirmed the phenomenon in both sickle cell (SS) trait and SS disease. Gunnels and Grim 2 have reported painless hematuria in A/D hemoglobinopathy. We have previously reported a case of recurrent painless hematuria in a patient with hemoglobin C trait. 3 The present report concerns a child with painless hematuria who had β-thalassemia trait associated with silent gall stones. A 5-year-old black American child was found on routine preschool examination to have significant microscopic hematuria. Complete urological evaluation revealed no abnormality but x-ray films showed radiopaque gall stones. Results of hematological evaluation included a hemoglobin level of 10.8 gm/100 ml, normal bilirubin level, and normal reticulocyte count. Hemoglobin electrophoresis however revealed an A 2 hemoglobin value of 4.3%. Analysis of the parents revealed normal hematograms for both