SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

Prepared by:

Tuba Kartal

Özge Özütrk

Before we start:

Terms you need know:

Anemia: decrease in number of red blood cells

and hemoglobin in the blood.

Hemoglobin: chemical substance of the red

blood cells that carry oxygen to the tissues.

Emia: blood - unemia: being without blood

What is Sickle Cell Anemia?

First described in Chicago in 1910 by James

Herrick as an inherited condition that results in

a decrease in the ability of red blood cells to

carry oxygen throughout the body.

Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle

cell disease. SCD is a serious disorder in which the

body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells.

Sickle cells contain abnormal hemoglobin called sickle hemoglobin or hemoglobin. Sickle hemoglobin causes the cells to develop a sickle, or crescent, shape.

Sickle cells are stiff and sticky. They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. Lack of tissue oxygenation can cause excruciating pain, damage to body organs and even death.

How does it occur?

It’s hereditary disease. (Like most genes, hemoglobin genes are inherited in two sets….one from each parent. )

Why is this harmful?

Sickle Cell Anemia makes the cells very fragile and they don’t survive for a long period of time, or as long as normal cells do.

Sickle cell also makes the cells inflexible which make them more able to block small blood vessels.

Sickle cell disease is inherited, but symptoms only occur after four months of age.

Complications with Body

Higher risk of stroke

Acute Chest Syndrome: chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing

Organ damage: usually kidneys, liver and spleen

Blindness

Treatment

Bone marrow transplant offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. But, finding a donor is difficult and the procedure has serious risks associated with it, including death.

As a result, treatment for sickle cell anemia is usually aimed at avoiding crises, relieving symptoms and preventing complications. If you have sickle cell anemia, you'll need to make regular visits to your doctor to check your red blood cell count and monitor your health. Treatments may include medications to reduce pain and prevent complications, blood transfusions and supplemental oxygen, as well as bone marrow transplant.

Sources: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/

topics/sca/ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sickle-cell-

anemia/DS00324/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/sickle-cell-anemia/overview.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle-cell_disease#Management

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205926-treatment

Google Visuals

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRt2auWkcYg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UpwV1tdxcs