November 25, 2024
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by YunZu (Michele) Wang, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that affects a person’s hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. Although it's hereditary, not all children born to parents who have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait will have the disease.
About 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease, which causes red blood cells to become sickle shaped. The vast majority of patients with this disease are Black or have African American ancestry, but other races may also be affected by this condition.
Sickle cell disease symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the type of disease and whether someone is experiencing a sickle cell crisis. The most common symptom is anemia, though patients may also experience pain, fatigue and other symptoms.
The main diagnostic tool for sickle cell disease is a blood test. If parents take a blood test, they can find out whether they carry the sickle cell trait and might pass it to their children. All newborns in the United States are screened for this condition at birth.
Depending on the severity of the patient’s symptoms and other factors, sickle cell treatment options range from blood transfusions and red blood cell exchanges to medications, gene therapy and stem cell transplantation.
City of Hope has a longstanding history of leading research designed to develop new, innovative treatments for blood disorders such as sickle cell disease. Our clinical teams also work closely with supportive care specialists who help ensure our patients receive support for their physical and emotional well-being during and after sickle cell treatment.
Our sickle cell disease team is staffed by an integrated group of experts who will focus on providing you optimal care from the moment of diagnosis to active treatment and survivorship support.
Our treatment program offers a number of unique features that allow our patients to receive treatment in a more efficient and less invasive manner. Because we have our own donor apheresis center blood bank, our patients don't have to travel to another hospital for transfusions.
Comprehensive supportive care programs are available to patients with sickle cell disease and their families through every step of the journey, from diagnosis to disease management.
Our developments in the areas of breakthrough drugs, bone marrow transplants and other therapies are recognized internationally.
Our leadership in research and innovation continually enhances our ability to provide novel and differentiated approaches to care for blood disorders such as sickle cell disease.