Sickle cell anemia is a disease in which your body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells.

The
cells are shaped like a crescent or sickle. They don't last as long as normal, round red blood cells.
This leads to anemia. The sickle cells also get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This can
cause pain and organ damage.
A genetic problem causes sickle cell anemia. People with the disease are born with two sickle cell
genes, one from each parent. If you only have one sickle cell gene, it's called sickle cell trait. About 1
in 12 African Americans has sickle cell trait.
The most common symptoms are pain and problems from anemia. Anemia can make you feel tired
or weak. In addition, you might have shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, or coldness in the
hands and feet.
A blood test can show if you have the trait or anemia. Most states test newborn babies as part of
their newborn screening programs.
Sickle cell anemia has no widely available cure. Treatments can help relieve symptoms and lessen
complications. Researchers are investigating new treatments such as blood and marrow stem cell
transplants, gene therapy, and new medicines.
ACCDG TO MAYO CLINIC

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia a condition in which there aren't
enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body.
Normally, your red blood cells are flexible and round, moving easily through your
blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky and
are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped cells can get
stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts
of the body.
There's no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia. However, treatments can
relieve pain and help prevent further problems associated with sickle cell anemia.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia a condition in which there aren't
enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body.
Normally, your red blood cells are flexible and round, moving easily through your blood
vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky and are
shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped cells can get stuck in
small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the
body.
There's no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia. However, treatments can
relieve pain and help prevent further problems associated with sickle cell anemia.

picture
Normal red blood cells are round. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells
become deformed, so they look like a sickle used to cut wheat. These unusually
shaped cells give the disease its name.

Signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia often don't appear until an infant is at
least 4 months old and may include:

Anemia. Sickle cells are fragile. They break apart easily and die, leaving you
without a good supply of red blood cells. Red blood cells usually live for about
120 days before they die and need to be replaced. But sickle cells die after an
average of less than 20 days. This results in a lasting shortage of red blood cells
(anemia). Without enough red blood cells in circulation, your body can't get the
oxygen it needs to feel energized. That's why anemia causes fatigue.

Episodes of pain. Periodic episodes of pain, called crises, are a major symptom
of sickle cell anemia. Pain develops when sickle-shaped red blood cells block
blood flow through tiny blood vessels to your chest, abdomen and joints. Pain
can also occur in your bones. The pain may vary in intensity and can last for a
few hours to a few weeks. Some people experience only a few episodes of pain.
Others experience a dozen or more crises a year. If a crisis is severe enough,
you may need to be hospitalized.

Hand-foot syndrome. Swollen hands and feet may be the first signs of sickle
cell anemia in babies. The swelling is caused by sickle-shaped red blood cells
blocking blood flow out of their hands and feet.

Frequent infections. Sickle cells can damage your spleen, an organ that fights
infection. This may make you more vulnerable to infections. Doctors commonly
give infants and children with sickle cell anemia vaccinations and antibiotics to
prevent potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia.

Delayed growth. Red blood cells provide your body with the oxygen and
nutrients you need for growth. A shortage of healthy red blood cells can slow
growth in infants and children and delay puberty in teenagers.

Vision problems. Some people with sickle cell anemia experience vision
problems. Tiny blood vessels that supply your eyes may become plugged with
sickle cells. This can damage the retina the portion of the eye that processes
visual images.

When to see a doctor

Although sickle cell anemia is usually diagnosed in infancy, if you or your child
develops any of the following problems, see your doctor right away or seek
emergency medical care:

Unexplained episodes of severe pain, such as pain in the abdomen, chest,

bones or joints.

Swelling in the hands or feet.

Abdominal swelling, especially if the area is tender to touch.

Fever. People with sickle cell anemia have an increased risk of infection, and
fever can be the first sign of an infection.

Pale skin or nail beds.

Yellow tint to the skin or whites of the eyes.

Any signs or symptoms of stroke. If you notice any one-sided paralysis or

weakness in the face, arms or legs, confusion, trouble walking or talking, sudden
vision problems or unexplained numbness, or a headache, call 911 or your local
emergency number right away.

Causes
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Multimedia

Sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that tells your body to make
hemoglobin the red, iron-rich compound that gives blood its red color.
Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of
your body. In sickle cell anemia, the abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to
become rigid, sticky and misshapen.
The sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of
inheritance called autosomal recessive inheritance. This means that both the mother
and the father must pass on the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected.
If only one parent passes the sickle cell gene to the child, that child will have the
sickle cell trait. With one normal hemoglobin gene and one defective form of the
gene, people with the sickle cell trait make both normal hemoglobin and sickle cell
hemoglobin. Their blood may contain some sickle cells, but they generally don't
experience symptoms. However, they are carriers of the disease, which means they
can pass the defective gene on to their children.
With each pregnancy, two people with sickle cell traits have:

A 25 percent chance of having an unaffected child with normal hemoglobin

A 50 percent chance of having a child who also is a carrier

A 25 percent chance of having a child with sickle cell anemia

Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The risk of inheriting sickle cell anemia comes down to genetics. For a baby
to be born with sickle cell anemia, both parents must carry a sickle cell gene.

The gene is more common in families that come from Africa, India,
Mediterranean countries, Saudi Arabia, the Caribbean islands, and South and
Central America. In the United States, it most commonly affects blacks.

Complications
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Sickle cell anemia can lead to a host of complications, including:

Stroke. A stroke can occur if sickle cells block blood flow to an area of your
brain. Signs of stroke include seizures, weakness or numbness of your arms and
legs, sudden speech difficulties, and loss of consciousness. If your baby or child
has any of these signs and symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately. A
stroke can be fatal.

Acute chest syndrome. This life-threatening complication of sickle cell anemia

causes chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing. Acute chest syndrome can be
caused by a lung infection or by sickle cells blocking blood vessels in your lungs.
It may require emergency medical treatment with antibiotics and other
treatments.

Pulmonary hypertension. People with sickle cell anemia can also develop high
blood pressure in their lungs (pulmonary hypertension). This complication usually
affects adults rather than children. Shortness of breath and fatigue are common
symptoms of this condition, which can be fatal.

Organ damage. Sickle cells can block blood flow through blood vessels,
immediately depriving an organ of blood and oxygen. In sickle cell anemia, blood
is also chronically low on oxygen. Chronic deprivation of oxygen-rich blood can
damage nerves and organs in your body, including your kidneys, liver and
spleen. Organ damage can be fatal.

Blindness. Tiny blood vessels that supply your eyes can get blocked by sickle
cells. Over time, this can damage the portion of the eye that processes visual
images (retina) and lead to blindness.

Skin ulcers. Sickle cell anemia can cause open sores, called ulcers, on your
legs.

Gallstones. The breakdown of red blood cells produces a substance called

bilirubin. A high level of bilirubin in your body can lead to gallstones.

Priapism. Men with sickle cell anemia may experience painful, long-lasting
erections, a condition called priapism. As occurs in other parts of the body, sickle
cells can block the blood vessels in the penis. This can damage the penis and
eventually lead to impotence.

Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Sickle cell anemia is usually diagnosed through genetic screening done when a
baby is born. Those test results will likely be given to your family doctor or

pediatrician. Once sickle cell anemia is diagnosed, you'll likely be referred to a

doctor who specializes in blood disorders (hematologist) or a pediatric hematologist.
Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a
good idea to be well-prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and
what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Write down any symptoms you've noticed, including any that may seem
unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.

Bring a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to

remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who
accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.

Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you
make the most of your time together. For sickle cell anemia, some basic questions
to ask your doctor include:

What's the most likely cause of my child's symptoms?

Are there other possible causes?

What kinds of tests are needed?

What treatments are available and which do you recommend?

What types of side effects are common with these treatments?

Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?

What's my child's prognosis?

Are there any dietary or activity restrictions?

Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What
websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask additional
questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them
may reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor
may ask:

When did you first notice these symptoms?

Have they been continuous or occasional?

Does anything seem to improve these symptoms?

What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?

Does anyone in your family have sickle cell anemia?

Have you ever been told you have a trait for sickle cell anemia?

Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A blood test can check for hemoglobin S the defective form of hemoglobin
that underlies sickle cell anemia. In the United States, this blood test is part of
routine newborn screening done at the hospital. But older children and adults
can be tested, too.
In adults, a blood sample is drawn from a vein in the arm. In young children
and babies, the blood sample is usually collected from a finger or heel. The
sample is then sent to a laboratory, where it's screened for hemoglobin S.
If the screening test is negative, there is no sickle cell gene present. If the
screening test is positive, further tests will be done to determine whether one
or two sickle cell genes are present. People who have one gene sickle cell
trait have a fairly small percentage of hemoglobin S. People with two
genes sickle cell anemia have a much larger percentage of the
defective hemoglobin.

Additional tests

To confirm any diagnosis, a sample of blood is examined under a microscope

to check for large numbers of sickle cells a marker of the disease. If you or
your child has the disease, a blood test to check for anemia a low red
blood cell count will be done. And your doctor may suggest additional tests
to check for possible complications of the disease.
If you or your child carries the sickle cell gene, you may be referred to a
genetic counselor an expert in genetic diseases.

Tests to detect sickle cell genes before birth

Sickle cell disease can be diagnosed in an unborn baby by sampling some of

the fluid surrounding the baby in the mother's womb (amniotic fluid) to look for
the sickle cell gene. If you or your partner has been diagnosed with sickle cell
anemia or sickle cell trait, ask your doctor about whether you should consider
this screening. Ask for a referral to a genetic counselor who can help you
understand the risk to your baby.

Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Bone marrow transplant offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. But
finding a donor is difficult and the procedure has serious risks associated with it,
including death.
As a result, treatment for sickle cell anemia is usually aimed at avoiding crises,
relieving symptoms and preventing complications. If you have sickle cell anemia,
you'll need to make regular visits to your doctor to check your red blood cell count
and monitor your health. Treatments may include medications to reduce pain and
prevent complications, blood transfusions and supplemental oxygen, as well as a
bone marrow transplant.

Medications
Medications used to treat sickle cell anemia include:

Antibiotics. Children with sickle cell anemia may begin taking the antibiotic
penicillin when they're about 2 months of age and continue taking it until they're
at least 5 years old. Doing so helps prevent infections, such as pneumonia,
which can be life-threatening to an infant or child with sickle cell anemia.
Antibiotics may also help adults with sickle cell anemia fight certain infections.

Pain-relieving medications. To relieve pain during a sickle crisis, your doctor

may advise over-the-counter pain relievers and application of heat to the affected
area. You may also need stronger prescription pain medication.

Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea). When taken daily, hydroxyurea reduces the

frequency of painful crises and may reduce the need for blood transfusions.
Hydroxyurea seems to work by stimulating production of fetal hemoglobin a
type of hemoglobin found in newborns that helps prevent the formation of sickle
cells. Hydroxyurea increases your risk of infections, and there is some concern
that long-term use of this drug may cause tumors or leukemia in certain people.
However, this hasn't yet been seen in studies of the drug.
Hydroxyurea was initially used just for adults with severe sickle cell anemia.
Studies on children have shown that the drug may prevent some of the serious
complications associated with sickle cell anemia. But the long-term effects of the
drug on children are still unknown. Your doctor can help you determine if this
drug may be beneficial for you or your child.

Assessing stroke risk

Using a special ultrasound machine (transcranial), doctors can learn which children
have a higher risk of stroke. This test can be used on children as young as 2 years,
and those who are found to have a high risk of stroke are then treated with regular
blood transfusions.

Vaccinations to prevent infections

Childhood vaccinations are important for preventing disease in all children. But,
these vaccinations are even more important for children with sickle cell anemia,
because infections can be severe in children with sickle cell anemia. Your doctor will
make sure your child receives all of the recommended childhood vaccinations.
Vaccinations, such as the pneumococcal vaccine and the annual flu shot, are also
important for adults with sickle cell anemia.

Blood transfusions
In a red blood cell transfusion, red blood cells are removed from a supply of donated
blood. These donated cells are then given intravenously to a person with sickle cell
anemia.

Blood transfusions increase the number of normal red blood cells in circulation,
helping to relieve anemia. In children with sickle cell anemia at high risk of stroke,
regular blood transfusions can decrease their risk of stroke.
Blood transfusions carry some risk. Blood contains iron. Regular blood transfusions
cause an excess amount of iron to build up in your body. Because excess iron can
damage your heart, liver and other organs, people who undergo regular transfusions
may need treatment to reduce iron levels. Deferasirox (Exjade) is an oral medication
that can reduce excess iron levels.

Supplemental oxygen
Breathing supplemental oxygen through a breathing mask adds oxygen to your
blood and helps you breathe easier. It may be helpful if you have acute chest
syndrome or a sickle cell crisis.

Stem cell transplant

A stem cell transplant, also called a bone marrow transplant, involves replacing
bone marrow affected by sickle cell anemia with healthy bone marrow from a donor.
Because of the risks associated with a stem cell transplant, the procedure is
recommended only for people who have significant symptoms and problems from
sickle cell anemia.
If a donor is found, the diseased bone marrow in the person with sickle cell anemia
is first depleted with radiation or chemotherapy. Healthy stem cells from the donor
are filtered from the blood. The healthy stem cells are injected intravenously into the
bloodstream of the person with sickle cell anemia, where they migrate to the bone
marrow cavities and begin generating new blood cells. The procedure requires a
lengthy hospital stay. After the transplant, you'll receive drugs to help prevent
rejection of the donated stem cells.
A stem cell transplant carries risks. There's a chance that your body may reject the
transplant, leading to life-threatening complications. In addition, not everyone is a
candidate for transplantation or can find a suitable donor.

Treating complications
Doctors treat most complications of sickle cell anemia as they occur. Treatment may
include antibiotics, vitamins, blood transfusions, pain-relieving medicines, other
medications and possibly surgery, such as to correct vision problems or to remove a
damaged spleen.

Experimental treatments
Scientists are studying new treatments for sickle cell anemia, including:

Gene therapy. Because sickle cell anemia is caused by a defective gene,

researchers are exploring whether inserting a normal gene into the bone marrow
of people with sickle cell anemia will result in the production of normal

hemoglobin. Scientists are also exploring the possibility of turning off the
defective gene while reactivating another gene responsible for the production of
fetal hemoglobin a type of hemoglobin found in newborns that prevents sickle
cells from forming. Potential treatments using gene therapy are still a long way
off, however. No human trials using genes specifically for sickle cell have yet
been done.

Nitric oxide. People with sickle cell anemia have low levels of nitric oxide in their
blood. Nitric oxide is a gas that helps keep blood vessels open and reduces the
stickiness of red blood cells. Treatment with nitric oxide may prevent sickle cells
from clumping together. Studies on nitric oxide have had mixed results so far.

Drugs to boost fetal hemoglobin production. Researchers are studying

various drugs to devise a way to boost the production of fetal hemoglobin. This is
a type of hemoglobin that stops sickle cells from forming.

Statins. These medications, which are normally used to lower cholesterol, may
also help reduce inflammation. In sickle cell anemia, statins may help blood flow
better through blood vessels.

Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Taking steps to stay healthy may help you avoid complications of sickle cell anemia.
If you or your child has sickle cell anemia, follow these suggestions to help you stay
healthy:

Take folic acid supplements daily, and choose a healthy diet. Bone marrow
needs folic acid and other vitamins to make new red blood cells. Your doctor may
recommend a folic acid supplement. You can increase the number of vitamins
you eat each day by choosing a diet that focuses on a variety of colorful fruits
and vegetables, as well as whole grains.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can increase your risk of a sickle cell crisis.
Drink water throughout your day, aiming for about eight glasses a day. Increase
the amount of water you drink if you exercise or spend time in a hot, dry climate.

Avoid temperature extremes. Exposure to extreme heat or cold can increase

your risk of a sickle cell crisis.

Exercise regularly, but don't overdo it. Talk with your doctor about how much
exercise is right for you.

Use over-the-counter medications with caution. Some medications, such as

the decongestant pseudoephedrine, can constrict your blood vessels and make it
harder for the sickle cells to move through freely.

Fly on airplanes with pressurized cabins. Unpressurized aircraft cabins may

not provide enough oxygen. Low oxygen levels can trigger a sickle crisis.

Plan ahead when traveling to high-altitude areas. There is less oxygen at

higher altitudes, so you may require supplemental oxygen to avoid triggering a

sickle cell crisis. Meet with your doctor before your trip to discuss the risks of
traveling to a high-altitude area.

Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic Staff

If you or someone in your family has sickle cell anemia, you may want help with the
stresses of this lifelong disease. Consider trying to:

Find someone to talk with. Sickle cell centers and clinics can provide
information and counseling. Ask your doctor or the staff at a sickle cell center if
there are support groups for families in your area. Talking with others who are
facing the same challenges you are can be helpful. Prayer, family and friends
also can be sources of support.

Explore ways to cope with the pain. If you're in pain, work with your doctor to
find ways to control your pain. Pain medications can't always take all the pain
away. Different techniques work for different people, but it might be worth trying
heating pads, hot baths, massages or physical therapy.

Learn enough about sickle cell anemia to make decisions about care. If you
have a child with sickle cell anemia, learn as much as you can about the disease
so that you can make informed choices about your child's care. Ask questions
during your child's appointments. Ask your health care team to recommend good
sources of further information.

Prevention

By Mayo Clinic Staff

If you carry the sickle cell trait, you may wish to see a genetic counselor
before trying to conceive a child. A genetic counselor can help you
understand your risk of having a child with sickle cell anemia. He or she can
also explain possible treatments, preventive measures and reproductive
options.