Sickle Cell Disease refers to a group of genetic blood disorders which are inherited and, at present, cord blood cell transfusions holds promise for a cure. The red blood cells of individuals born with this disorder change from their round flexible shape to a band, twisted, sickle shape. These cells can block the flow of blood and oxygen, causing pain, damage, and death to vital tissues and organs. Sickle cell disease is also found in individuals from Turkey, Greece, the Middle East, and East India. All forms of Sickle Cell disease are inherited.
Children inherit genes for the disease from their parents.
Genes are substances within the fathers sperm and mothers egg. Children inherit the genes for hemogloban from their parents. Parents who inherit both normal and sickle hemogloban have sickle cell traits. The individual sperm or egg from a person with sickle cell trait may contain either a gene for normal hemogloban or a gene for sickle globan. M.D. Director NIH Claude A. Allen, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Commonwealth of Virginia Support the battle against Sickle Cell Anemia Disease.