News

A blood test measuring levels of the protein cystatin C may provide a more reliable way to monitor for kidney problems in children and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), a small study suggests. Data showed that commonly used formulas based on creatinine-to-protein ratio, a well-established kidney…

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are about seven times more likely to have asthma than their unaffected siblings, with odds increasing with age, according to a study in the U.S. These findings highlight the importance of more frequent screening to protect the lungs and prevent asthma-related complications in…

A high dose of pociredir, Fulcrum Therapeutics’ oral drug candidate for sickle cell disease (SCD), boosted fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and reduced red blood cell destruction — thereby easing symptoms of anemia — in a small group of patients with the blood disorder. These are the latest results…

Most women and girls with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience disease-related pain during menstrual periods, but many are unaware that medical treatments — such as birth control pills — may help alleviate period-related pain in SCD, according to a new study by U.S. researchers. Based on these findings, the…

As they shift from pediatric to adult care, young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) appear to visit the emergency room more often and be prescribed less hydroxyurea, a preventive treatment approved to reduce the frequency of painful crises, according to a study in the U.S. Data also…

A small clinical trial testing Agios Pharmaceuticals’ oral therapy candidate tebapivat against a placebo for easing symptoms in people with sickle cell disease (SCD) has completed enrollment, the company announced. Agios expects to report early results from the Phase 2 trial later this year, according to a…

Differences in the stiffness of red blood cells may help to explain variations in the severity of sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a new study. The findings shed new light on the physics that govern the flow of deformed blood cells through vessels. Researchers found that stiff cells…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to the Gazelle Hb Variant test, a point-of-care blood test developed by Hemex Health to enable rapid, low-cost diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia. The designation is…

Testing blood levels of certain clotting proteins may help clinicians identify serious complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) in children, a study showed, a finding that could be especially useful in resource-poor settings. Data indicated that vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in children with SCD were associated with elevated levels…

Hormonal contraceptives — birth control medications that use lab-made versions of reproductive hormones — appear to be generally safe for use by women with sickle cell disease (SCD), a new review study found. The frequency of thrombosis, or the blockage of blood flow due to a clot, was low…