There are approximately 80,000 individuals in the United States with sickle cell disease. The deficiency of oxygen in the blood causes hemoglobin S to crystallize, distorting the red blood cells into a sickle shape, making them fragile and easily destroyed, leading to anemia. When the tissues are deprived of an adequate blood supply, painful symptoms occur.
Complications can include stroke, bone pain, kidney damage and breathing problems.
The recurrent pain caused by the disease can interfere with many aspects of the patients' lives including education, employment, and psychosocial development. While sickle hemoglobin and normal hemoglobin carry the same amount of oxygen, two major differences exist between the two kinds of cells. First, they differ in the way they flow through the blood vessels. The second difference between the two types of cells is their longevity. Sickle cells do not live as long as normal cells.