Sickle Cell Disease Treatment in Dubai

However, for individuals with SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky, looking like a C-shaped farm tool known as a “sickle.” This type of cell dies early resulting in a constant shortage of red blood cells. Besides, when they move through small blood vessels, they may get stuck and clog the blood flow.

Types of Sickle Cell Disease

There is a variety of SCD but a specific type of SCD a person has depends on the genes they inherited from a parent. Individuals who have SCD inherit genes that contain codes for abnormal hemoglobin.

The most common types of Sickle Cell Disease include the following:

HbSS

Individuals with this kind of SCD often inherit two genes, one from each parent, that code for hemoglobin “S.” Hemoglobin S is described as an abnormal hemoglobin that results in the red cell becoming rigid, and sickle-shaped (sickle cell anemia).

HbSC

Unlike HbSS, individuals with this form of SCD inherit a hemoglobin “S” gene from one parent and a gene of a different type of abnormal hemoglobin known as “C” from the other parent.

Hbs beta Thalassemia

Individuals suffering from this type of SCD often inherit a hemoglobin “S” from one parent and a gene for beta thalassemia which is another type of hemoglobin abnormality from the other parent.

Rare types of Sickle Cell Disease

HbSD, HbSE, and HbSO

People with these types of SCD inherit one “S” gene for hemoglobin plus one “D”, “E”, or “O” gene that codes for an additional defective kind of hemoglobin. The severity of these rare types of SCD varies.

Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)

HbAS

Individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) often inherit a hemoglobin “S” gene from one parent and a normal gene from the other parent. SCT patients typically have signs of the disease. However, a person with SCT may, on rare occasions, experience health issues; these are most frequently brought on by additional physical pressures on the body, such as dehydration or severe activity.

Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease

A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is the only treatment recognized by the FDA as having the potential to treat Sickle Cell Disease.

Blood cells are created in the soft, fatty tissue called bone marrow, which is located in the core of the bones. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant involves taking healthy blood-forming cells from one person – the donor – and transferring them to a patient whose bone marrow isn’t functioning properly.

Transplants of bone marrow or stem cells carry a high risk of side effects. The bone marrow from the donor needs to be a close match for the transplant to be successful. Typically, a sibling makes for the ideal donor. The procedure is most common in cases of severe Sickle Cell Disease for children who have minimal organ damage from the disease.