Sickle cell disease is a severe form of anemia. In sickle cell anemia the red blood cells are deformed; rather than the usual disc shape they have a crescent or \u201csickle\u201d shape, these sickle cells are also rigid as opposed to flexible like regular red blood cells. These sickle cells cause numerous problems for those with the condition; their shape means they do not flow around the body so easily and can even cause blockages which can result in severe pain and even organ damage for the sufferer. Sickle cells also die more quickly than healthy red blood cells resulting in anemia as there are less effective red blood cells in the body to transport oxygen.[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n Sickle cell anemia is a genetic condition; for a baby to be born with sickle cell disease each parent must carry a copy of the disease. Each child they have will have a 25% chance of being unaffected, 50% chance of being a carrier of the sickle cell gene and 25% chance of having sickle cell disease.[2]<\/sup><\/p>\n People of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Eastern Mediterranean and Asian origin are most commonly affected by sickle cell disease. In the US, non-Hispanic Black and African American are the majority (90%) of those affected.[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n People with sickle cell disease face a higher economic burden, with average annual health care costs being $28,561 higher for children with sickle cell and $35,028 for adults. Inpatient hospitalizations for children with sickle cell alone can cost up to $900 million per year in the US; the lifetime medical costs associated with sickle cell have been estimated to be about $1.7 million per patient.[3]<\/sup><\/p>\n Children with sickle cell disease have successfully been treated with a stem cell transplant. Initially, this treatment was thought to be too toxic to be extended to adults with the disease after their bodies have been greatly weakened. However, researchers in Maryland have modified the transplant procedure to ascertain it\u2019s potential in treating adults with sickle cell disease.<\/p>\n Between 2004 and 2013, 30 patients with severe sickle cell disease were enrolled in the trial. The patients, between the ages of 16 and 65, underwent a less toxic form of chemotherapy before they received stem cells donated by a healthy sibling.<\/p>\n The researchers discovered sickle cell disease was reversed in 87% of the patients. The patients had fewer hospital admissions; reduced drug use to treat the pain associated with sickle cell disease and had normal hemoglobin. A year after the transplant, 15 of the patients had stopped taking immunosuppressant medications.[7]<\/sup><\/p>\n The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cells4life.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sicklecell_185810981.jpg” alt=”Sickle Cell Anaemia ” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] <\/p> Sickle Cell Anemia Facts<\/h3>\n
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Sickle Cell Disease and Stem Cells<\/h3>\n
References<\/h3>\n
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