ABOUT SICKLE CELL DISEASE ―

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells may become sickle-shaped and harden, causing serious and potentially fatal complications. People with sickle cell disease are born with this condition. It can cause chronic, severe and unpredictable pain. It is not contagious, and there is no universal cure.

Understanding Sickle Cell Disease

People with sickle cell disease have genes that tell their body to produce abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the main substance of red blood cells, and it helps those cells carry oxygen from the air in our lungs to all parts of the body. Normal blood cells contain hemoglobin A, which allows the cells to be soft and malleable.

Sickled red blood cells contain hemoglobin S, which causes the cells to become stiff and distorted. When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood is circulated throughout the body. This process causes most sickle cell complications.

There are several types of sickle cell disease. The most common are:

  • Hemoglobin SS Disease
  • Hemoglobin SC Disease
  • Sickle Beta-Plus Thalassemia
  • Sickle Beta-Zero Thalassemia

Most individuals with sickle cell disease have hemoglobin S, but some have a different type of abnormal hemoglobin like hemoglobin C, hemoglobin D or hemoglobin E. Also, some individuals can have sickle cell disease because of co-inheritance of beta thalassemia.

  • Chronic, severe and unpredictable pain
  • Anemia
  • Frequent infections
  • Swelling in extremities
  • Fatigue
  • Delayed growth
  • Vision problems/blindness
  • Lung tissue damage
  • Kidney disease
  • Stroke
  • Shortened life expectancy
  • Damage to hip joint
  • Gallstones
  • Jaundice
  • Priapism
  • Antibiotics
  • Pain management
  • Intravenous fluids
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Surgery
  • Medications like hydroxyurea
  • Folic acid
  • Gene therapy