News

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…

Chronic pain among adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with more functional disability — meaning patients are less able to independently perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, or working — as well as lower health-related quality of life, according to a new…

A neurodevelopmental screening tool may identify toddlers and preschool children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are at risk for long-term academic difficulties, a study shows. The tool, called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), is based on parent-reported acquisition of developmental milestones across fine and gross motor…

Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have received $3.78 million in federal funding to evaluate whether a diabetes medication can slow kidney damage in people with sickle cell disease (SCD). People with SCD face a higher likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease and often lose kidney…

Memantine, an oral medication that’s been used for decades to help treat Alzheimer’s disease, is generally tolerated well by people with sickle cell disease (SCD) and may help prevent painful disease crises, especially in children. Those are the findings of a small, one-year study in Israel that tested…

The breakdown of red blood cells — a defining feature of sickle cell disease (SCD) — may contribute to the cognitive problems many people with the condition experience, a study suggested. Researchers found that the breakdown of red blood cells, known as hemolysis, releases heme into the bloodstream, which…

Higher levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) seem to protect people with sickle cell disease (SCD) by reducing the risk of lung problems, such as pulmonary hypertension, and delaying bone damage, at least in men, according to a study from a single center in Georgia. The study, “The Role…