Sickle Cell Anemia: Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by red blood cells which are crescent-shaped rather than the normal doughnut shape. These abnormally shaped red blood cells are unable to function normally and tend to undergo premature destruction which leads to anemia. If the genetic defect which causes the condition is inherited from both parents the condition can be quite severe whereas if it is inherited from only one parent, often there are no symptoms. The abnormally shaped red blood cells can cause problems when they clump together and block blood vessels. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Sickle Cell Anemia is available below.
See full list of 81 symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia
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Prognosis for Sickle Cell Anemia: There is no cure for the condition though bone marrow transplants can significantly help a small number of people. People with the condition tend to have a shorter life span but careful management of symptoms and complications can improve the quality of life and increase the life span. Some people can survive past the age of 50 if they manage their condition carefully.
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The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
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A disease characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, episodic painful crises, and pathologic involvement of many organs. It is the clinical expression of homozygosity for hemoglobin S. - (Source - Diseases Database)
A congenital form of anemia occurring mostly in blacks; characterized by abnormal blood cells having a crescent shape - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Sickle Cell Anemia is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Sickle Cell Anemia, or a subtype of Sickle Cell Anemia,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ophanet, a consortium of European partners,
currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000.
They list Sickle Cell Anemia as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet
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