Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle-cell disease, or sickle-cell anaemia (or drepanocytosis), is a life-long blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications.

Understanding Sickle Cell Disease

World Sickle Cell Day is June 19 and was created by the United Nations in 2006 to raise global awareness for sickle cell disease as a public health problem. Sickle cell disease is an extremely debilitating medical condition.

What is Sickle-Cell Disease?

Sickle-Cell Disease Classification

Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis

Sickle-Cell Disease Pathophysiology

Sickle-Cell Disease Genetics

Sickle-Cell Disease Treatment

Sickle-Cell Disease History

Sickle Cell Disease Carriers

Sickle-Cell Disease Symptoms

What is Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)?

Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

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COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Disease

Current Challenges in Sickle Cell Disease

Latest Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

Six-country African study highlights the potential dangers of getting COVID-19 during pregnancy

A new study involving hospitalized women in six African countries from the University of Maryland School of Medicine's (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV) showed that pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had double the risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and four-times the risk of dying in-hospital than pregnant women who did not have COVID-19.

19 Jul 2022

Novel gene-based therapies for sickle cell disease rely on finding the right mouse for the job

Sickle cell disease is an extremely debilitating condition that affects up to 40% of the population in African countries, with patients suffering episodes of excruciating pain, organ damage and reduced life-expectancy.

7 Jul 2022

Brigham receives $16 million Helmsley Charitable Trust grant to improve healthcare delivery for NCDs

Brigham and Women's Hospital announces a $16 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support the implementation and evaluation of an integrated service delivery model (PEN-Plus) for severe chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and sickle cell disease in eight low- and lower-middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

1 Jul 2022

Researchers explore disease severity post-infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in hematologic patients

A new study has studied the clinical outcome and spectrum in 61 patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

29 Jun 2022

New Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative & Integrative Medicine launched with a $3 million gift

With a $3 million gift from Elisa and Marc Stad, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals have launched the Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative & Integrative Medicine – one of the most innovative and comprehensive programs of its kind in the nation.

31 May 2022

Study highlights the economic burden affecting individuals with sickle cell disease

In a study published today in Blood Advances, researchers found that privately insured individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) spend approximately $1.7 million on disease-related medical expenses over their lifetime.

16 May 2022

Corticosteroid exposure associated with hospitalization for severe pain event among patients with sickle cell disease

People with sickle cell disease (SCD) who were recently prescribed a corticosteroid – a medicine frequently used to treat asthma or inflammation – were found to be significantly more likely to be hospitalized for a severe pain event, according to a paper published today in the journal Blood.

27 Apr 2022

Young adult men with sickle cell disease are unaware of SCD-associated fertility issues, study reveals

New research published today in Blood Advances indicates that many adolescent and young adult (AYA) men with sickle cell disease (SCD) are unaware of potential SCD-associated fertility issues, highlighting a need for comprehensive fertility education materials for this population.

21 Apr 2022

UNSW research improves fundamental understanding of the mechanism behind sickle cell disease

UNSW researchers have used CRISPR gene editing – a type of 'molecular scissors' – to understand how deletions in one area of the genome can affect the expression of nearby genes.

8 Apr 2022

Big pharma is betting on bigger political ambitions from Sen. Tim Scott

Sen. Tim Scott, a rising star in the Republican Party with broad popularity in his home state of South Carolina, is getting showered with drug industry money before facing voters this fall.

28 Mar 2022

Music therapy is beneficial for patients with sickle cell disease

A new study from University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health found patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) who participated in music therapy learned new self-management skills and improved their ability to cope with pain.

18 Feb 2022

Drugs that increase fetal hemoglobin levels may help people with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become sickle/crescent shaped. It causes frequent infections, swelling in the hands and legs, pain, severe tiredness and delayed growth or puberty.

18 Feb 2022

Study investigates what causes blood malignancies linked to gene therapy for sickle cell disease

Gene therapy trials for sickle cell disease have been showing great promise, even offering hope of a cure. But in early 2021, the trials ground to a halt after reports of blood malignancies in two people in a trial sponsored by bluebird bio.

16 Feb 2022

Study suggests folic acid supplementation linked to increased risk for COVID-19 diagnosis

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers evaluated if folic acid or methotrexate use impacts the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis or associated mortality in the United Kingdom (UK).

15 Feb 2022

Lehigh’s undergraduate students receive NIH Award for new sickle cell diagnostic device

Their tickets were booked. Their schedules were set. The students were finally going to test their product on real people. But in July, Sierra Leone's COVID-19 level spiked almost overnight, and Lehigh's Sickle Cell Anemia Diagnostic Device team lost yet another opportunity to conduct fieldwork.

1 Nov 2021

Health care costs for people with rare diseases have been underestimated, study shows

A new, retrospective study of medical and insurance records indicates health care costs for people with a rare disease have been underestimated and are three to five times greater than the costs for people without a rare disease.

22 Oct 2021

Existing drug reduces obesity and fatty liver in mice without changes in food intake or daily activity

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that a drug first developed to treat Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and sickle cell disease reduces obesity and fatty liver in mice and improves their heart function — without changes in food intake or daily activity.

7 Oct 2021

Sickle Cell Disease

Overview

What is Sickle-Cell Disease?

Sickle-Cell Disease Classification

Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis

Feature Articles

Sickle-Cell Disease Pathophysiology

Sickle-Cell Disease Genetics

Sickle-Cell Disease Treatment

Sickle-Cell Disease History

Sickle Cell Disease Carriers

Sickle-Cell Disease Symptoms

What is Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)?

Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Disease

Current Challenges in Sickle Cell Disease

Latest Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

Six-country African study highlights the potential dangers of getting COVID-19 during pregnancy

Novel gene-based therapies for sickle cell disease rely on finding the right mouse for the job

Brigham receives $16 million Helmsley Charitable Trust grant to improve healthcare delivery for NCDs

Researchers explore disease severity post-infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in hematologic patients

New Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative & Integrative Medicine launched with a $3 million gift

Study highlights the economic burden affecting individuals with sickle cell disease

Corticosteroid exposure associated with hospitalization for severe pain event among patients with sickle cell disease

Young adult men with sickle cell disease are unaware of SCD-associated fertility issues, study reveals

UNSW research improves fundamental understanding of the mechanism behind sickle cell disease

Big pharma is betting on bigger political ambitions from Sen. Tim Scott

Music therapy is beneficial for patients with sickle cell disease

Drugs that increase fetal hemoglobin levels may help people with sickle cell disease

Study investigates what causes blood malignancies linked to gene therapy for sickle cell disease

Study suggests folic acid supplementation linked to increased risk for COVID-19 diagnosis

Lehigh’s undergraduate students receive NIH Award for new sickle cell diagnostic device

Health care costs for people with rare diseases have been underestimated, study shows

Existing drug reduces obesity and fatty liver in mice without changes in food intake or daily activity

Researchers seek to identify the role of hypoxia on red blood cell aging

Nemours receives $10.5 million NIH grant to support research in sickle cell disease

Hydroxyurea therapy can improve or reverse cardiac complications in sickle cell anemia patients

Costly Chemicals; The Health and Economic Impact of 'Forever Chemicals'

Crying out for new disease diagnoses

Understanding the emotions behind memories

Sickle Cell Disease

Overview

Feature Articles

Sickle-Cell Disease Pathophysiology

Sickle-Cell Disease Genetics

Sickle-Cell Disease Treatment

Sickle-Cell Disease History

Sickle Cell Disease Carriers

Sickle-Cell Disease Symptoms

What is Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)?

Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Disease

Current Challenges in Sickle Cell Disease

Latest Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

Costly Chemicals; The Health and Economic Impact of 'Forever Chemicals'

Crying out for new disease diagnoses

Understanding the emotions behind memories

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