Sickle Cell Disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Normal red blood cells are round and have no problem moving through small blood tubes to deliver oxygen. The sickle red blood cells are hard, sticky, and shaped like sickles used to cut wheat. The sickle cells clog the flow of the small blood tubes and the cells break apart. This can cause pain, damage, and a low blood count.
One little change in a substance called hemoglobin can cause it to form long rods in the red blood cell when it gives away oxygen. Instead of the rods changing into the round shape of a normal red blood cell, they change into a sickle shape.
The abnormal hemoglobin is inherited. If you are born with it, it will be present for life. If only one sickle cell is passed, you have sickle cell trait. When two sickle cell genes are passed, it is called sickle cell disease.
Sickle Cell is generally thought to be an African American disease, but it is found in many nationalities. These nationalities include Africans, Arabs, Greeks, Italians, Latin Americans, and those from India. Caucasians can also have sickle cell disease or trait. All races should be screened for this hemoglobin at birth.
A test called hemoglobin electrophoresis is just a simple blood test that can be done by your doctor. This test will tell you if you are a carrier or have the disease. Other types of trait that may be discovered include:.
Hemoglobin C trait.
Hemoglobin E trait.
Hemoglobin Barts.
Betathalassemia trait.
There are three common types of sickle cell disease in the United States. .
1.) Hemoglobin SS or Sickle Cell Anemia.
2.) Hemoglobin SC Disease.
3.) Hemoglobin Sickle Beta-Thalassemia.
Each of these can cause complications and pain episodes. Some are more common than others are. All of these may also have an increase in fetal hemoglobin, which can protect the red blood cell from sickling and help prevent complications.
Complications from sickle cell disease include:.
