Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy in which deformed erythrocytes impair microvascular blood flow, leading to complications across multiple organ systems. Variants of SCD exist, and a less common form involves the inheritance of one hemoglobin S allele and one hemoglobin C allele, manifesting as sickle cell-hemoglobin C (HbSC) disease. Although HbSC disease can cause significant sequelae, a rare but serious complication is hemorrhagic stroke. In such cases, chronic endothelial injury, vascular fragility, and abnormal hemodynamics associated with this hemoglobinopathy may predispose patients to vessel rupture, resulting in hemorrhage. We report the case of a 54-year-old man with HbSC disease who was admitted for an acute sickle cell crisis and subsequently experienced an overt hemorrhagic stroke. The patient developed chronic neurological deficits and remains under skilled nursing care. This case highlights the rare occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke in HbSC disease and challenges the perception that HbSC is a benign condition.
Keywords: cerebrovascular accident (stroke); clinical hematology; hemoglobin sc disease; hemoglobinopathy; hemorrhagic stroke.
Copyright © 2026, Manjrekar et al.