Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that affects hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells are flexible and shaped like discs, allowing them to easily move through the bloodstream. In individuals affected by sickle cell disease, red blood cells are misshapen into crescent or sickle shapes. The sickled red blood cells, because they are not flexible like normal red blood cells, can block blood flow to parts of the body and lead to pain crises that often require medical intervention to treat.
There are many health problems and complications that can arise in individuals affected by sickle cell disease; beyond causing pain crises, blocked blood vessels can result in organ damage or stroke. Damage caused to the spleen makes sickle cell patients more susceptible to infection, especially young children.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute, sickle cell disease affects more than 8 million people worldwide and affects more than 100,000 people in the United States, 90% of whom are of African ancestry or identify as Black. About one in 13 Black babies are born with sickle cell trait, the gene mutation that leads to sickle cell disease when passed down by both parents. One in 365 Black babies are born with sickle cell disease.
There are treatments for sickle cell disease, but very few interventions that can cure the condition. Bone marrow transplant is one such curative treatment, but this is not always a viable option for patients because of the risk of the procedure and the difficulty in finding a matching bone marrow donor. Two gene treatments were approved by the FDA in December of 2023 and are considered potentially curative, but they are too new to say for certain yet.
One of the most crucial interventions for sickle cell disease is blood transfusions. These can reduce pain crises and risk of stroke and other complications.
You can make a huge difference in the lives of patients with sickle cell disease by donating blood. Emory Libraries and the African Student Association are hosting a blood drive on October 13 in the Emory Student Center and October 14 at the Woodruff Library–please consider signing up to donate if you’re able!
Bone marrow donation can treat or cure many diseases besides sickle cell, such as leukemia. If you’re interested in joining the national bone marrow donation registry, see more information at NMDP.org.