Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease
What is sickle cell disease? — Sickle cell disease is a condition that affects cells in the blood called red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen to organs in the body.
There are a few different types of sickle cell disease. A common type is called "sickle cell anemia."
Normal red blood cells are disc-shaped, sort of like a half-filled water balloon. They are flexible enough to fit through small blood vessels. In people with sickle cell disease, some of the red blood cells have an abnormal shape (figure 1). Under a microscope, they look similar to an old-time farming tool called a "sickle." This is how the disease gets its name.
The "sickle cells" are stickier and less flexible than normal red blood cells. Because of this, they can get stuck in the blood vessels easily. When this happens, they don't bring enough oxygen to the body's organs. This can cause pain or organ damage.
Sickle cell disease is a life-long condition that people are born with. It is caused by an abnormal gene:
If a person gets the sickle cell gene from both their mother and father, they will have a form of sickle cell disease called "sickle cell anemia."
If a person gets the sickle cell gene from 1 parent, and a different abnormal gene from the other parent, they will have one of the other forms of sickle cell disease. Examples of these different abnormal genes include "hemoglobin C" and "beta thalassemia."
If a person gets the abnormal gene from only 1 parent and a normal gene from the other parent, they will have "sickle cell trait." People with sickle cell trait generally do not have any of the symptoms of sickle cell disease. But they can pass the gene along to their children.
What are the symptoms of sickle cell disease? — Symptoms usually start after a baby is a few months old. Most commonly, people with sickle cell disease have episodes of pain. Some doctors use the term "sickle cell pain episode" or "sickle cell crisis." But you should not wait for pain to become a crisis before you get help.
Sickle cell pain can be in the bones, chest, or other parts of the body. It can be mild or severe, and last hours to days. People can have other symptoms with their pain, too. The symptoms depend on how old they are:
Babies can have pain in the hands and feet with swelling and redness.
Older children and adults can have pain in the chest with trouble breathing, fever, or coughing.
Older children and adults can have pain in the bones.
Most episodes of pain just happen because of the abnormal red blood cells, and can't be predicted. But sometimes, the pain can be related to other things, such as:
Infection – People with sickle cell disease are more likely than others to get certain infections.
Dehydration – Dehydration is when the body loses too much water.
Weather or air conditions
Travel to high-altitude places – These are places where there is less oxygen in the air, such as mountains. Flying in an airplane might also cause symptoms for people with sickle cell disease. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent problems.
Sickle cell disease can also cause other symptoms and problems, including:
Severe anemia – Anemia is the medical term for having too few red blood cells. It makes people tired or weak. Most people with sickle cell disease have anemia. But in some cases, it can be severe and need treatment.
Very severe infections, which can be life threatening.
Lung problems – Symptoms can include trouble breathing, chest pain, asthma, or sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for short periods during sleep).
Strokes – A stroke is when a part of the brain is damaged because of a problem with blood flow. This can happen when a blood vessel gets blocked or bleeds.
Open sores on the skin (usually on the legs)
A problem with the bone in the shoulder or hip – This happens when the bone doesn't get enough blood, leading to pain in the bone or joint. In some cases this can cause permanent damage. Doctors call this problem "osteonecrosis" or "avascular necrosis."
In men, an erection that lasts too long and is very painful
Is there a test for sickle cell disease? — Yes. A blood test can show if someone has sickle cell disease. All newborn babies in the United States are tested for sickle cell disease before they leave the hospital.
Some parents are tested for the sickle cell gene before getting pregnant. This is to find out their risk of having a baby with sickle cell disease. Talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.
How is sickle cell disease treated? — Sickle cell disease involves life-long treatment. Some treatments help prevent the different problems sickle cell disease can cause. Others are aimed at relieving pain or treating other problems, like infection.
Medicines for infections include:
Antibiotics – Daily antibiotics like penicillin can help prevent infections in young children. Other antibiotics are also used to treat infections.
It is important for people with sickle cell disease to be treated for infections right away. Call your doctor as soon as possible if you get a fever or think you might have an infection.
Vaccines – Getting all vaccines helps prevent infections. This is especially important in children, but is also true for adults.
Other treatments for sickle cell disease include:
Hydroxyurea (sample brand names: Droxia, Hydrea) – This medicine helps the body make more normal red blood cells.
The American Society of Hematology has a booklet with more details about hydroxyurea. You can find this, along with more information about sickle cell disease, on their web site (www.hematology.org/SCD).
Other medicines that help the red blood cells keep their normal shape – These medicines help the cells deliver oxygen better. One example is L-glutamine (brand name: Endari). This medicine can help decrease pain episodes. Doctors might suggest it if hydroxyurea is not helping enough with pain or if you cannot take hydroxyurea. It is a powder that is sprinkled on food or in a drink twice a day. It can be used in people over 5 years old.
Blood transfusions – A blood transfusion is when a person gets blood that was given by another person. People who have a high chance of having a stroke might get blood transfusions to help prevent strokes. People might also get blood transfusions to treat anemia.
Folic acid – A vitamin called folic acid (also called folate) helps people with sickle cell disease to make red blood cells.
Pain medicines – Doctors can use different medicines to treat pain. Your doctor can help you make a plan for treating pain at home. If the pain is severe, people might need treatment in the hospital or regular pain medicines every day.
A procedure called a "bone marrow transplant" or "stem cell transplant" can cure sickle cell disease. This procedure replaces the "stem cells" that make your blood with healthy cells. But this treatment is not done very often for sickle cell disease. That's because it has many side effects and can be done only if people meet certain conditions.
Gene therapy is also being studied as a way to cure sickle cell disease. It involves using the person's own stem cells for a bone marrow transplant. The cells are treated in a lab so they have a normal gene instead of the sickle cell gene.
When should I call the doctor or nurse? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you what to look for and when to call for help. In general, you should call right away if the person with sickle cell disease has any of the following problems. Do not wait to call, even if it's the middle of the night, because it's important to get treatment right away. Call for help if the person:
Gets a fever or has other signs of infection (for example, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, stiff neck, headache, trouble breathing, or cough).
Has pain that doesn't get better after it is treated at home
Has an erection that lasts longer than 2 to 4 hours
Has trouble breathing
Has symptoms of a stroke. Symptoms might include:
•Severe headache
•Seizure
•Not being able to wake up
•Trouble speaking
•Drooping of the face on one side
•Weakness in an arm or leg
Some of these stroke symptoms are shown in the picture (figure 2).
What else can people with sickle cell disease do to stay healthy? — People with sickle cell disease should:
See their doctor for regular check-ups, treatments, and tests.
Get the vaccines that the doctor or nurse recommends. Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections.
Take good care of themselves, including staying well hydrated, exercising, eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking and air pollution, and getting enough sleep.
What if I have sickle cell disease and want to get pregnant? — If you have sickle cell disease and want to get pregnant, talk with your doctor or nurse. A sickle cell specialist or a genetic counselor can do a blood test on your partner and tell you your baby's chance of having sickle cell disease.
If you have sickle cell disease and are pregnant, your doctor will follow you and your baby closely throughout your pregnancy. That's because sickle cell disease can cause problems for both you and your baby.
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Mar 30, 2020.
Topic 16730 Version 17.0
Release: 28.2.2 - C28.105
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