José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Droplets packed with hemoglobin may briefly form tiny clusters inside red blood cells that ultimately deform their shape, and cause the pain crises that mark sickle cell disease (SCD), a study reports. The research, “A mechanism for reversible mesoscopic aggregation in liquid solutions,” appeared in the journal …

Insufficient levels of selenium in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are associated with red blood cell destruction, or hemolysis, according to a study from Brazil. As such, the study authors recommend those patients should include selenium-rich foods in their diets. The study, “Selenium Status and…

Children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia (SCA) showed low adherence to treatment with hydroxyurea, according to a multi-state study in the U.S. The research, “Hydroxyurea use among children with sickle cell anemia,” was published in the journal Pediatric Blood & Cancer. Hydroxyurea is…

The U.S. opioid epidemic is not linked to higher in-hospital mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a national study. The study came about due to the pronounced increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the U.S. that has been reported since 2000. Its researchers did…

The blood level of a small protein called IP-10 could be a way to determine inflammation in pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to new research in potential biomarkers. The exploratory study, “Chemokines in pregnant women with sickle cell disease,” appeared in the journal…

Under a new treatment protocol, seven adults with sickle cell anemia were treated — and reportedly cured — using stem cells from donors previously seen as incompatible. The study reporting these treatments, “Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Demonstrates Stable Engraftment in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease,” was…

In-person education of caregivers increases their knowledge of sickle cell trait (SCT), according to researchers. But new strategies are needed to make sure caregivers don’t forget what they learned. The study, “Sickle cell trait knowledge and health literacy in caregivers who receive in‐person sickle cell trait education,” appeared in…

A gene editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9 repaired 20 to 40 percent of stem and progenitor cells obtained from sickle cell disease patients, scientists report, suggesting such an approach might offer a way of treating this disease. Sickle cell anemia is the most severe type of sickle cell disease, which is…

An upcoming Phase 1 clinical trial was recently awarded $5.74 million to evaluate an innovative blood stem cell transplant procedure for adults with severe sickle cell disease (SCD). The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) granted the funding to City of Hope, where the research will be conducted, and…

Voxelotor, a potential treatment for sickle cell anemia (SCA), has been given breakthrough therapy designation (BTD), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) recently announced. Voxelotor (previously called GBT440) is a potential once-daily oral medicine for SCA patients. It was designed to increase hemoglobin’s binding of oxygen, which keeps red blood…