The Differences Betweet Sickle Cell Trait and Sickle Cell Anemia

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Have you ever wondered what the difference is between s sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia? Each day, thousands of people wonder the same thing. Most people may think they are the same disorder, but in actuality it is not. When we are born we are given a hemoglobin A gene from both of our parents. Hemoglobin A is a normal protein found inside red blood cells. It gives blood its red color and carries oxygen to all parts of the body. A person who has sickle cell trait gets a gene for hemoglobin A from one parent and a gene for hemoglobin S from the other parent. Hemoglobin S is an abnormal hemoglobin protein that occurs in the red blood cells in sickle-cell anemia patient, however, if a person only has one gene of hemoglobin A and one gene of hemoglobin S, the hemoglobin A is enough for red blood cells to function normally (XXXX). This is not a disease, it will not change to the disease later, there is no medical treatment necessary, and the person will lead a normal life. Sickle cell anemia occurs when a person gets one gene for sickle (S) hemoglobin from one parent and a sickle (S) hemoglobin gene from the other parent. There is little or no hemoglobin A. When red blood cells carrying hemoglobin S release their oxygen to the tissue, they change from round to sickle shaped (XXXX). Hence the name sickle cell anemia.

Who is at risk for sickle cell anemia? Sickle cell anemia is most common in people whose families come from Africa, South or Central America, Caribbean islands, and Mediterranean countries (such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy), India, and Saudi Arabia (XXXX). It seems to me that people with dark complexion or whose ancestors had a dark complexion are at risk for sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait. It i...

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...tal hemoglobin helps prevent red blood cells from sickling and improves anemia (XXXXX). There is also new treatments called blood and marrow stem cell transplant. The stem cells used for a transplant must come from a closely matched donor. The transplant process is and can lead to serious side effects or even death. This treatment may even offer a cure for only a small number of people and the risk is far too great. Gene Therapy is another new treatment. Gene therapy is being studied as a possible treatment for sickle cell anemia. Researchers want to know whether a normal gene can be put into the bone marrow stem cells of a person who has sickle cell anemia. This would cause the body to make normal red blood cells. Researchers also are studying whether they can "turn off" the sickle hemoglobin gene or "turn on" a gene that makes red blood cells behave normally.

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