Acute myocardial infarction in sickle cell anemia.

Typical acute myocardial infarction in a well-documented case of sickle cell disease, to our knowledge, has not been reported. A patient with hemoglobin SS proved by electrophoresis with typical clinical manifestation and diagnostic ECG changes died suddenly. Autopsy findings were confirmatory, but no atherogenic lesions were present. Possible mechanisms for acute infarction are discussed, including sludging of sickle cells, coronary spasm, thrombus formation, and severe anemia associated with any or all of the aforementioned.