Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that affects the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin protein in red blood cells.
It carries a risk of asickle cell crisis, pain, infections, and blood clots.
The terms “sickle cell disease” and “sickle cell anemia” are used interchangeably.
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The disease can be detected with a blood test even when you do not have symptoms.
Treatment for sickle cell anemia includes prevention and management of sickle cell crises and other effects of the condition.
This article describes sickle cell disease, the causes, and the treatments.
Hemoglobin inside red blood cells carries oxygen throughout the body.
With this mutation, the gene produces a dysfunctional protein called hemoglobin S (HbS).
This geneis inheritedfrom your parents.
Sickle cell disease is more common among certain populations.
This results in dysfunctional hemoglobin proteins and different presentations of sickle cell disease.
These include:
Does My Baby Have Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms?
What Happens During a Sickle Cell Anemia Crisis?
Sometimes certain triggers may lead to a sickle cell crisis.
Triggers can include some medications, certain foods, fevers, stress, and infections.
When to Get Emergency Care for Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is a chronic condition.
Making sure that you have a healthcare team who is managing your illness is crucial to staying healthy.
Even with regular care, sometimes the effects of the disease can suddenly worsen and be dangerous.
These complications may occur due to the impact of a crisis or due to long-term sickle cell disease.
In fact, people with this disease have approximately a 20-year shorter estimated life expectancy.
These treatments may include medications that help prevent sickling of the red blood cells or clotting of sickled cells.
Gene therapiesinclude Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel) and Lyfgenia (lovotibeglogene autotemcel).
The modified cells are resistant to sickling, which reduces symptoms of sickle cell disease.
Preventing Infections
One of the important aspects of managing sickle cell disease involves the prevention of infections.
This condition can make a person susceptible to severe and frequent infections.
Additionallyvaccinationagainst communicable diseases is an important measure to help prevent serious infections.
Sometimes over-the-counter treatments such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can be effective.
But chronic use of any pain medication is not safe and may cause side effects.
Healthy Choices With Sickle Cell Anemia
Living with sickle cell disease can be a challenge.
Managing Chronic Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms
Most symptoms of sickle cell disease are intermittent.
However, the complications may cause long-term and lasting effects.
Lifestyle adjustments may include:
Sometimes sickle cell disease can result in major disabilities and limitations.
There are several variants of sickle cell disease, and they may range in severity.
The condition is present at birth, and it is a lifelong condition.
There are many treatments for sickle cell disease that can help improve quality of life and longevity.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is sickle cell disease?
Food and Drug Administration.FDA Approves First Gene Therapies to Treat Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.
Food and Drug Administration.Casgevy.
Food and Drug Administration.Lyfgenia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living well with sickle cell disease.
