SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia — a

condition in which there aren't enough healthy red
blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your
body.
Normally, your red blood cells are flexible and round,
moving easily through your blood vessels. In sickle cell
anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky and
are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These
irregularly shaped cells can get stuck in small blood
vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen
to parts of the body.

Type of Genetic Disorder

The sickle cell anemia trait is found on a recessive
allele of the hemoglobin gene. This means that you
must have two copies of the recessive allele — one
from your mother and one from your father — to have
the condition.
 Causes of Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the gene
that tells your body to make the red, iron-rich
compound that gives blood its red color (hemoglobin).
Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from
your lungs to all parts of your body. In sickle cell
anemia, the abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells
to become rigid, sticky and misshapen.

The sickle cell disease is passed from generation to

generation.
 Population Affected by Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell disease affects millions of people worldwide.
It is most common among people whose ancestors come
from Africa; Mediterranean countries such as Greece,
Turkey, and Italy; the Arabian Peninsula; India; and
Spanish-speaking regions in South America, Central
America, and parts of the Caribbean.
Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood
disorder in the United States, affecting 70,000 to
80,000 Americans. The disease is estimated to occur in
1 in 500 African Americans and 1 in 1,000 to 1,400
Hispanic Americans.
 Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia
The major features and symptoms of sickle cell anemia
include:
 Fatigue and anemia
 Pain crises
 Dactylitis (swelling and inflammation of the hands
and/or feet) and arthritis.
 Bacterial infections
 Sudden pooling of blood in the spleen and liver
congestion.
 Lung and heart injury
 Leg ulcers
 Aseptic necrosis and bone infarcts (death of
portions of bone).
 Eye damage
 Treatments For Sickle Cell Anemia
Bone marrow transplant, also known as stem cell transplant,
offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. It's
usually reserved for people younger than age 16 because the
risks increase for people older than 16. Finding a donor is
difficult, and the procedure has serious risks associated with
it, including death.
As a result, treatment for sickle cell anemia is usually aimed
at avoiding crises, relieving symptoms and preventing
complications. Babies and children age 2 and younger with
sickle cell anemia should make frequent visits to a doctor.
Children older than 2 and adults with sickle cell anemia should
see a doctor at least once a year, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Treatments might include medications to reduce pain and
prevent complications, and blood transfusions, as well as a
bone marrow transplant.