PRIAPISM IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA IN TOGO: PREVALENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS COMPLICATION

Prevalence of priapism and knowledge on this disease was assessed by interviewing a group of 114 sickle cell anemia patients, 5 years and older, considered to be genotypically homogenous (Benin or #19 haplotype). Prevalence of priapism in homozygous sickle cell patients was 26.3% (30 114) and that of the control group of subjects with Hb AA was 2% (2 102) (the difference was very significant: p = 5.10-7). Actuarial probability of having priapism by 20 years of age was 69 ± 8.5%. Few homozygous patients without a history of priapism (15.8%) have heard about priapism. This lack of knowledge, added to low accessibility of a health care system, may explain the high rate of impotence (31.6%). The results of this study led us to plan a large program of information about priapism and sickle cell disease in the Togolese population.