Priapism and Painless Hematuria In Hemoglobin C Trait

To the Editor.— Sickle cell disease (homozygous SS disease) is well known as a cause of priapism. Heterozygous sickle cell trait is well known to be associated with painless hematuria. It is perhaps of more than passing interest that we have seen two patients with hemoglobin C trait, one suffering from priapism, the other suffering from intermittent painless hematuria. The first patient was a 49-year-old muscular, healthy appearing black man, who, in March of 1967, awakened one morning with priapism. He was admitted by T. S. Su, MD, urologist, to Memorial Medical Center of Chatham County, and underwent a cavanocaval shunt. A subsequent medical evaluation revealed that the patient suffered from essential hypertension, but had no other significant abnormalities. A starch gel hemoglobin electrophoresis showed hemoglobin A value of 70% and hemoglobin C value of 30%. Our laboratory had reported a positive sickle cell preparation, and Dr. Robert M. Bookchin