Crisis in sickle cell trait.

A 34-year-old black male with hemoglobin AS was admitted for renal failure, polydipsia, hypertension, schizophrenia, mental confusion, and visual hallucinations. Abnormal electrolytes were corrected by dialysis, but blood specimens were reported as hemolyzed with hyperkalemia. Peaked T waves on electrocardiographic analysis were followed by cardiac arrest. An autopsy revealed sickled cells in the visual cortex and other symptomatic organs, but normal erythrocytes in most of the vascular tree. These findings suggest true progressive sickle cell crisis in a hemoglobin AS patient.