Non-drug Treatments for Sickle Cell Disease

A blood transfusion is a medical procedure through which healthy blood cells or blood components are transferred from a healthy donor to someone in need. It may be used to help treat, mitigate, or prevent symptoms and chronic complications of SCD in both children and adults.

Oxygen therapy, which involves having a person breathe in extra oxygen, is a medical intervention that may be used to help manage acute complications of SCD associated with blood vessel blockage, such as pain crises. It has also been proposed as a preventive or supportive measure for SCD patients in other situations, but that remains controversial.

A stem cell transplant is an invasive procedure that can be used to enable people with SCD to produce healthy red blood cells. It usually involves replacing a patient’s hematopoietic stem cells (blood cell precursors) with healthy ones harvested from a donor. When successful, a stem cell transplant can cure SCD. However, the procedure carries substantial risks and is not recommended for all SCD patients.