SCDhealthhub

Sickle cell is an inherited disease caused by a defect in a gene. A person will be born with sickle cell disease only if two genes are inherited- one from the mother and one from the father. A person who inherits just one gene is healthy and said to be a “carrier” of the disease.

It affects hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible enough to move easily through the blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells become crescent- or “sickle”-shaped due to a genetic mutation. These sickled red blood cells do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body.

The blocked blood flow through the body can lead to serious problems, including stroke, eye problems, infections, and episodes of pain called pain crises.

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong illness. A bone marrow transplant is currently the only cure for sickle cell disease. If you have sickle cell disease, your healthcare team will work with you on a treatment plan to reduce your symptoms and manage the condition.