Sickle Cell Disease: Concerns and Challenges

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders. Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most common form of SCD. It is characterized by an abnormality in hemoglobin found in red blood cells. This results in rigid, sickle-shaped red blood cells. SCA typically develops symptoms like anemia, bacterial infections, stroke, pain, swelling in the hands and feet, etc. The gene defect associated with sickle cell disease is a single nucleotide mutation. Normal red blood cells are elastic thereby allowing cells to deform and pass through capillaries. In SCD, low oxygen tension promotes sickling of red blood cells which fail to return to the normal shape when the ideal oxygen tension is restored. These cells are therefore not able to pass through narrow capillaries, leading to ischemia and vessel occlusion. SCA can lead to complications such as stroke, severe bacterial infections, cholelithiasis, avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis, acute papillary necrosis, etc. This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about the concerns and challenges in the management of sickle cell disease. It brings forth some of the most innovative concepts and elucidates the unexplored aspects of this disease. It is meant for students who are looking for an elaborate reference text on sickle cell disease.