Sickle Cell Anemia & Sickle Cell Trait FAQs
Here are 10 facts about sickle cell anemia
1. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in the gene that tells the body how to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
2. In sickle cell anemia, the abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become stiff and sickle (crescent) shaped.
3. These sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, blocking blood flow and oxygen delivery to different parts of the body.
4. The blockage of blood flow can lead to episodes of severe pain, called pain crises.
5. Sickle cells also break down more quickly than normal red blood cells, leading to a chronic shortage of red blood cells, a condition called anemia.
6. People with sickle cell anemia are at increased risk for various complications, including stroke, acute chest syndrome (a lung condition), infections, organ damage, and vision problems.
7. There are different types of sickle cell disease, with varying degrees of severity. Hemoglobin SS is the most common and often the most severe type.
8. Sickle cell anemia is more common in people of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Hispanic descent.
9. In the United States, all newborns are routinely screened for sickle cell disease.
10. While there is no widely available cure for sickle cell anemia, treatments such as pain management, blood transfusions, hydroxyurea, and in some cases, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, can help manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Normal red blood cell
Sickled red blood cell
Here are 10 facts about sickle cell trait
1. Sickle cell trait occurs when a person inherits only one copy of the sickle cell gene from one parent and a normal hemoglobin gene from the other parent.
2. People with sickle cell trait usually do not have any of the symptoms of sickle cell disease and generally live normal, healthy lives.
3. Under most circumstances, their red blood cells remain mostly normal in shape.
4. Sickle cell trait is not a mild form of sickle cell disease and cannot develop into sickle cell disease.
5. Individuals with sickle cell trait are carriers of the sickle cell gene and can pass it on to their children.
6. If both parents have sickle cell trait, there is a 50% chance their child will have sickle cell trait, a 25% chance their child will have sickle cell disease, and a 25% chance their child will have neither.
7. In rare cases and under extreme conditions, such as severe dehydration, high altitude, or intense physical exertion, individuals with sickle cell trait may experience some health issues like pain, blood in the urine, or, very rarely, more serious complications.
8. Sickle cell trait is relatively common, particularly in people of African descent (affecting about 1 in 13 Black or African American babies in the U.S.). It also occurs in other ethnic groups.
9. Most people with sickle cell trait are unaware they have it unless they are specifically tested.
10. Genetic counseling is recommended for individuals with sickle cell trait, especially if they are planning to have children, to understand the risks of passing on the sickle cell gene.