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SICKLE CELL ANEMIA/TRAIT

Sickle Cell Anemia/Trait

Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder which affects the blood cells ability to carry oxygen through the body. Sickle Cell Anemia disproportionately affects people of African-descent although people of Hispanic descent are the fastest growing ethnic group.

Over 100,000 people in the U.S. suffer from Sickle Cell Anemia and 3 million carry the Sickle Cell Trait. Under certain conditions the blood cells sickle or change shape. Vaso-occlusive crisis is the main condition that is unpredictable and the leading cause of debilitating pain and multi-organ damage.

Once the red blood cell sickles it can clog up in the blood vessels which deprive the tissues and vital organs of oxygen. Patients often experience excruciating pain, most commonly in the joints but it can occur anywhere in the body. Pain can be triggered by stress, changes in temperature, infection, illness and dehydration.

Pain crisis and infection are common problems that are treated in the hospitals by way of Emergency Rooms, Ambulatory Care Centers and Outpatient Specialty Clinics.

Sickle Cell Anemia

Resource Links

SCD Resource Links

Centers for Disease Control, Sickle Cell Anemia
https://www.cdc.gov/sickle-cell/about/index.html

Sickle Cell Information Center
www.scinfo.org

Sickle Cell Anemia Association of America
www.sicklecelldisease.org

Get Connected-Patient Powered Registry
https://www4.gvtsecure.com/reg_scdaa/

Black Doctor, Sickle Cell Anemia
www.blackdoctor.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Sickle Cell Anemia
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Sickle cell anemia, 3D illustration showing blood vessel with normal and deformed crescent.