Nuclear characteristics of buccal mucosa cells in sickle-cell anemia.

Exfoliative cytology smears from the buccal mucosa of patients with sickle-cell anemia, selected controls, and patients with other diagnosed anemias were studied for nuclear aberrations. A filar micrometer eyepiece was used to count the number of nuclei larger than 14 microns in mean diameter in a 500 cell count on each slide. Use of the Scheffe method of paired comparisons, disclosed that the number of cells larger than 14 microns in mean diameter, was significantly smaller in the control subjects, patients with microcytic anemia, and subjects with sickle-cell anemia than in the patients with megaloblastic anemia. Serum folate-deficient subjects had significantly more nuclei, per 500 cells, larger than 14 microns than control subjects or subjects on folate therapy. An explanation for the enlarged nuclei in smears from sickle-cell anemia patients is given. The possible use of this counting procedure to evaluate tissue folate status is suggested.