Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

Acute chest syndrome, a serious complication of sickle cell disease that can accompany a vaso-occlusive crisis, is more likely in SCD patients who run high fevers, and have low blood oxygen levels and poor spleen function during such crises, a study of hospital records suggests. Other possible predictors of…

More than a quarter of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of being discharged, most often due to sickle cell crisis, according to a recent U.S. nationwide study. This high rate of readmissions was associated with a significant financial burden…

A new computer model is able to simulate how red blood cells become misshapen in patients with sickle cell disease. The model may be useful in identifying which medicines could be beneficial for preventing the development of sickled cells. The study about that research, “Quantitative prediction of erythrocyte sickling for…

A newly developed treatment approach, known by the acronym SICKLE, was shown to be a safe strategy to manage and treat long-lasting sickle cell disease-related ulcers in a case report. This holistic approach was able to heal skin wounds, which had not responded to prior standard treatments, within six months. The…

Students with sickle cell disease (SCD) feel that educators and administrators at their schools lack knowledge about SCD management — an issue that could be addressed by developing a handbook that staff could use to help students with SCD. The study with that finding, “Student perspectives on managing sickle…

A simple blood test and other measures could help halt the rise of sickle cell anemia in Africa and prevent fatal complications, especially among children, a World Heath Organization (WHO) official said this month. People living in Africa make up some 66 percent of the approximately 120 million people…

Researchers have pinpointed a specific genetic profile that could help identify sickle cell disease (SCD) patients who are at risk for developing acute chest syndrome (ACS), a common and severe complication of SCD. One of the major hallmarks of SCD is hemolysis – or breakdown of red blood cells –…

Researchers found that a new conditioning regimen for adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients undergoing allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PSCT) shows remarkable success in preventing the immune system from reacting against the treatment, a condition known as graft-versus-host disease. The study detailing that finding, “Allogenic peripheral stem…

Two kinds of CRISPR gene editing therapies show promise as treatments for a number of blood diseases, including sickle cell anemia, Editas Medicine reports. Gene editing is one of a wave of new approaches to treating diseases. It involves using specialized proteins to make precise cuts and pastes of DNA to correct…

Researchers found that treatment with hydroxyurea at currently approved doses for sickle cell anemia leads to a significant drop in total sperm count in men. The study, “Adverse effect of hydroxyurea on spermatogenesis in patients with sickle cell anemia after six months of treatment,” was published in the…