Sickle Cell Disease

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders that affect red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin*S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. These atypical red blood cells become rigid and sticky and are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. Early cell death causes a shortage of healthy red blood cells impairing the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to the tissues. Periodic episodes called crises, are caused by the blockage of blood flow, resulting in pain. There are five types of sickle cell disease – In HbSS, the patient inherits two sickle cell genes (“S”), one from each parent, is commonly referred to as sickle cell anemia, this is the most severe form of the disease. Other types include Hemoglobin SC disease, Hemoglobin SB+ thalassemia, Hemoglobin SB-zero thalassemia, Hemoglobin SD, hemoglobin SE and Hemoglobin SO. Symptoms usually begin in early childhood, and people with sickle cell disease have ancestors that came from sub-Saharan Africa, Mediterranean countries, Saudi Arabia, India or from Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere. Sickle Cell Disease is also called HbS disease, Hemoglobin S Disease, SCD, Sickle cell disorders, Sickle cell anemia, SS disease and Sickling disorder due to hemoglobin S.