Unexplained lymphadenopathy in sickle cell disease.

Progressive lymphadenopathy in a previously healthy female adult with homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) was found to be due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Detailed questioning identified several risk factors for HIV in this apparently low-risk patient. Parenteral therapy and heterosexual relationships while abroad may place such SCD patients at risk of HIV infection and its sequelae. The additional risk due to the underlying immunological abnormalities which have been identified in SCD patients is unclear in the absence of prospective studies or reported cases.