SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

INHERITANCE

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects hemoglobin S
• In order for a child to inherit Sickle Cell Anemia, both parents must have one SCD trait
• If a child receives 2 genes for sickle cell hemoglobin (one from both parents) then the child will have the disease
• The pedigree on this page shows that parents George and Arlene are Hh and hh and she has a daughter with the disease
• George and Arlene also have a heterozygous daughter that marries and heterozygous man that have a child that carries the disease

COMMON SYMPTOMS

• Sickle Cell Anemia is present at birth
• There are usually little to no problem until they are 5 to 6 months of age
• All babies when they are born are required to get tested for SCD in the United States
• Symptoms are; Painful swelling of feet and hands (dactylitis)
• Fatigue or fussiness from Anemia
• Yellowing of the skin (juandice) or whites of the eyes (icteris)
• Symptoms vary from person to person although

COMMONLY AFFECTED

• Males and Females are equally affected by SCD
• SCD does not affect a certain age group because it is hereditary
• Sickle Cell Anemia more frequently affects persons of Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean, and African descent
• They affect these heritages because of their geographic location and being more prone to malaria.

CURES & TREATMENTS

• A bone-marrow transplant is a possible cure for SCD
• There is also medication that will reduse the pain but, could cause infection
• Regular blood transfusions can decrease chances of having a stroke
• There are also vaccinations to prevent infections
• There are experimental procedures that could cure SCD
• Depending on how serious a cass of SCD they will generally live to around 40-70 years of age
• Some patients live without symptoms for years

HISTORY OF SCD

• 1927- Hahn and Gillespie showed that the sickle shaped cells came from not enough oxygen
• In 1948- A child used the treatment for leukemia (bone-marrow transplant) to cure his SCD and it was the first successful case
• 1995- Hydroxyurea became the first and only medication to prevent and reduce complications of SCD

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Bridges, MD Kenneth R. "A Brief History of Sickle Cell Disease." A Brief History of Sickle Cell Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
• "Mortality in sickle cell disease. Life expectancy and risk factors for early death." The New England journal of medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
• Mayo Clinic Staff Print. "Sickle cell anemia." Treatment - Sickle cell anemia - Mayo Clinic. N.
• "Sickle Cell Trait." Sickle Cell Trait. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.