Because the best match for an African American patient will be an African American donor, more bone marrow donors of African descent are needed to join the national registry. One in every twelve African Americans has sickle cell trait. One in every 375 African-American newborns has sickle cell disease. Individuals with sickle cell disease have a life-expectancy of almost 40 years, and physicians expect that to be much higher in the next decade due to recent advances medical care. Over 50 percent of all individuals with sickle cell disease require a blood transfusion during their lifetime, the majority require multiple transfusions.
Blood transfusions help certain children with sickle cell disease.
They are used to treat severe disease complications, to prevent complications from reoccurring, and to prepare children for surgery. Ninety percent of all sickle cell disease in the United States occurs in people of African descent. African American donors can provide blood that is a better match for patients with sickle cell disease. Complications from blood transfusions in individuals with sickle cell disease could be reduced if more African Americans donated blood routinely. Donating blood is safe, easy, and fast.