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What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle Cell Disease is caused by an inherited form of hemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs, via the bloodstream, to all parts of the body. Red blood cells with normal hemoglobin, visible under a microscope, are smooth and round, and glide easily through blood vessels. In the bodies of people with sickle cell disease, after the carrier cells release oxygen they assume a curved or “sickle”shape and become hard and sticky, blocking blood flow and causing damage to organs. Other complications include episodes of intense pain, swelling, fatigue, jaundice, stroke, and anemia.
Sickle Cell Disease is common throughout the world, and people of all races should be screened to determine if they are a carrier of the inherited sickle cell trait or if they have the disease. A simple and painless blood test is all that is needed.
It is estimated that more than 70,000 Americans have sickle cell disease and more than two million Americans have the sickle cell trait, meaning they carry one copy of the gene for the disease. There is presently no universal cure for the disease, though many persons, given proper treatment, can lead fairly normal lives into their 40s and even beyond. Researchers continue to look for a cure and for new, more effective treatments.