Sickle Cell Disease Learning Center2017-04-06T20:57:46+00:00

What is the treatment for Sickle Cell Disease?

Currently the only cure for sickle cell disease is a stem cell transplant. A stem cell transplant involves depletion of the affected bone marrow using radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and replacement with healthy donor stem cells [...]

How is Sickle Cell Disease diagnosed?

Sickle cell disease can be diagnosed through genetic testing and various blood tests. Genetic testing Genetic testing of the HBB gene can diagnose sickle cell disease. Three specific genetic mutations in the HBB gene, 20A>T, [...]

What are the signs and symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease?

The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease typically first appear in early childhood. The severity of the symptoms depends on the type of sickle cell disease and varies between affected individuals. If left untreated, [...]

What causes Sickle Cell Disease?

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the rest of the body. Normal hemoglobin (HbA) is made up of four protein subunits: two α-globin chains and two β-globin chains. Sickle [...]

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, leading to the distortion of red blood cells into a sickled shape. Common symptoms of SCD involve [...]