Hemoglobin SD disease associated with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis in pregnancy.

A black multipara was shown, by hemoglobin electrophoresis, to have hemoglobin SD disease. The patient exhibited a typically mild anemia that probably was secondary to folate and iron deficiencies as well as to hemoglobinopathic hemolysis. The course of her pregnancy was complicated by pyelonephritis and hyposthenuria, both of which have been reported in association with hemoglobin SD disease in pregnancy. The patient also was shown to have acute cholecystitis probably superimposed on a chronic cholelithiasis. This latter complication was probably the result of hemolysis due to hemoglobin SD disease. The patient was treated medically with good results, and, despite poor compliance and heroin addiction, delivered a viable infant at term.