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About SCD & SCT
SICKLE CELL DISEASE
SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders affecting over 100,000 individuals in the U.S, including 1 in 365 Black or African Americans, and 1 in 16,000 Latino or Hispanic Americans. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a "sickle."
SICKLE CELL TRAIT
Someone has sickle cell trait (SCT) when they inherit one sickle cell gene from one parent (instead of from each). While we do not know the exact number of people living with SCT in the U.S., it is estimated at a minimum of 1 million people. SCT generally doesn't cause any symptoms, though it might in circumstances of extreme dehydration, exertion, or altitude.
HbSS
People who have this form of SCD inherit two sickle cell genes (“S”), one from each parent. This is commonly called sickle cell anemia and is usually the most severe form of the disease.
HbSC
People who have this form of SCD inherit a sickle cell gene (“S”) from one parent and from the other parent a gene for an abnormal hemoglobin called “C”. is usually a milder form of SCD.
HbS/B-Thal
People who have this form of SCD inherit one sickle cell gene (“S”) from one parent and one gene for beta thalassemia, another type of anemia, from the other parent. There are two types of thalassemia; one is more severe, one is more mild.
HbSD, HbSE, and HbSO
People who have these rare forms of SCD inherit one sickle cell gene (“S”) and one gene from an abnormal type of hemoglobin (“D”, “E”, or “O”). The severity of these rarer types of SCD varies.
Normal Red Blood Cells vs Sickled Cells
How SCD and SCT are Inherited
COMPLICATIONS OF SCD
People with sickle cell disease (SCD) start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age. Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person and can range from mild to severe. The reason that infants don’t show symptoms at birth is because baby or fetal hemoglobin protects the red blood cells from sickling. When the infant is around 4 to 5 months of age, the baby or fetal hemoglobin is replaced by sickle hemoglobin and the cells begin to sickle.
TREATMENTS
There are a few treatment options for sickle cell disease, both to treat and manage complications, as well as newer, curative options. As with complications, treatments are based on the individual and should always be decided in consultation with your primary care provider or a specialist.
Take Action
There are various ways you can support those living with sickle cell disease today, including becoming a bone marrow or blood donor. See below to connect with organizations doing this work!
Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Information
There is a CURE for Sickle Disease Patients who have a match! You could be the cure for an individual living with Sickle Cell Disease! Click below to JOIN the Be The Match donor registry with a simple CHEEK SWAB!
Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease please click here to connect to FREE resources and tools!
Blood Donation Information
Do you know that transfusions are one of the major treatments for Sickle Cell patients? Do you know that blood donations are low and Sickle Cell patients sometimes cannot receive blood? Your blood Is needed! Please donate blood, host a blood drive or come out to one of our blood drives!
