Hemoglobin S-C Disease

By Evan M. Braunstein, MD, PhD, Instructor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

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Anemias Caused by Hemolysis
Overview of Hemolytic Anemia
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Embden-Meyerhof Pathway Defects
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency
Hemoglobin C Disease
Hemoglobin E Disease
Hemoglobin S-C Disease
Hemoglobin S–Beta-Thalassemia Disease
Hereditary Spherocytosis and Hereditary Elliptocytosis
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Sickle Cell Disease
Stomatocytosis and Anemia Caused by Hypophosphatemia
Thalassemias
Traumatic Hemolytic Anemia

Hemoglobin S-C disease is a hemoglobinopathy that causes symptoms similar to those of sickle cell disease, but usually less severe.

Because 10% of blacks carry the Hb S trait (that is responsible for sickle cell disease), the heterozygous S-C combination is more common than homozygous Hb C disease. The anemia in Hb S-C disease is milder than the anemia in sickle cell disease; some patients even have normal Hb levels.

Symptoms are similar to the symptoms of sickle cell disease, but are usually less frequent and less severe. However, gross hematuria, retinal hemorrhages, and aseptic necrosis of the femoral head are common. Splenomegaly may be present.

Hb S-C disease is suspected in patients whose clinical features suggest sickle cell disease or whose RBCs demonstrate sickling. Stained blood smears show target cells, spherocytes, and rarely sickle cells or oat-shaped cells. Sickling is identified in a sickling preparation, and Hb electrophoresis establishes the diagnosis.

Treatment can be similar to the treatment of sickle cell disease but is determined by severity of symptoms.

Last full review/revision January 2017 by Evan M. Braunstein, MD, PhD