Microdrepanocytic Disease in Greece

Among the 57 patients with the hematologic picture of sickle cell anemia, examination of the parents revealed that 44 were suffering from the microdrepanocytic disease and 13 from sickle cell anemia. The much more frequent occurrence of microdrepanocytic disease was expected since the microcytemia trait appears to be much more frequent in Greece than the sickle cell trait.

Most patients with sickle cell anemia originated from areas where the trait has been found in a very high frequency. In contrast, the geographical distribution of patients with microdrepanocytic disease is much wider.