News

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019

Sickle Cell Patients’ Diet Should Be Rich in Selenium, Researchers Say

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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 ... Read more

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019

UNITY Prenatal Test Uses Maternal Blood to Effectively Screen for SCD, Other Genetic Disorders, Study Says

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The prenatal test UNITY, which uses maternal blood samples, is effective in screening for sickle cell disease (SCD), cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and thalassemias, a study has ... Read more

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

FDA Awards $2M to Phase 2 Trial of Vitamin D for Reducing Risk of SCD Respiratory Complications

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded $2 million to support a Phase 2 clinical trial testing whether daily supplementation of vitamin D reduces the risk of ... Read more

October 8, 2019October 8, 2019

New Viral Vector May Make Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell More Effective, NIH Study Reports

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A newly designed viral vector — the vehicle that delivers a gene therapy to a patient’s cells — for use in sickle cell anemia is more efficient than earlier vectors at ... Read more

October 3, 2019

How Diet Can Help Support Sickle Cell Patients: A Nutritionist’s View

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Strong evidence points to some complications of sickle cell anemia (SCA) having as much to do with nutrition as they do with genes. Characteristics and symptoms of the disease ... Read more

October 3, 2019October 3, 2019

CDC Expands SCD Data Collection Program to 7 More US States in Effort to Improve Services

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will share an award total of nearly $1.2 million with institutions in seven U.S. states, allowing them to take part in a ... Read more

October 1, 2019October 1, 2019

Special Program Cut Hospital Stays, Improved Well-being of Young Patients with Vaso-Occlusive Crisis, Study Finds

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A multidisciplinary plan implemented at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital was able to cut by more than half the number of days young sickle cell disease (SCD) patients were hospitalized ... Read more

September 27, 2019September 27, 2019

NORD 2019 Rare Disease Summit Set for Oct. 21-22 in Washington, DC

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Next month’s annual conference of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) in Washington, D.C., couldn’t come at a better time, says Marshall Summar, MD, chairman of NORD’s board ... Read more

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019

Red Cross Features Thriving Sickle Cell Patient to Increase Blood Donations, Raise Awareness

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During National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross is asking people to consider making a blood donation to benefit sickle cell disease patients — like Marqus Valentine. After ... Read more

September 24, 2019September 24, 2019

Emergency Department Less Likely to Provide Recommended Care for VOEs, Study Finds

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Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who arrive at an emergency department with vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) are more likely to have a longer delay before treatment, receive less narcotics ... Read more