Protector effect of α-thalassaemia on cholecystitis and cholecystectomy in sickle cell disease

<b>Objectives:</b> Cholecystitis is one of the complications of symptomatic cholelithiasis responsible for high levels of morbidity of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Here, we investigated the possible protective role of single gene deletions of α-thalassaemia in the occurrence of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in SCD patients, as well as the cholecystectomy requirements. <b>Methods:</b> The α-globin genotype was determined in 83 SCD patients using the multiplex-polymerase chain reaction and compared with clinical events. <b>Results:</b> Overall, in 23% of patients, -α^3.7 deletion was found. α-Thalassaemia concomitant to SCD was an independent protective factor to cholecystitis (OR = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01–0.66; <i>p</i> = 0.020) and cholecystectomy requirement (OR = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.03–0.60; <i>p</i> = 0.008). The risk of cholelithiasis was not affected by the α-thalassaemia concomitance. <b>Conclusions:</b> To the best our knowledge, our study is the first to show the protective effect of α-thalassaemia on cholecystitis and cholecystectomy requirements in SCD, which may be due to an improved splenic function.