February 15, 2022
Sickle Cell Trait Can Raise Odds for Severe COVID
People with sickle cell disease who have a history of severe pain episodes and coexisting organ conditions have an increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness, a new study suggests. “This study tells us that all individuals with sickle cell disease are not at equal levels of risk,” said study author Dr. Lana Mucalo, of the...
Transplant Beneficial for Kidney Failure in Sickle Cell Disease
Patients with kidney failure who receive a kidney transplant, including those with sickle cell disease, have lower mortality, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Sunjae Bae, K.M.D., M.P.H., from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues studied all adults with...
Kidney Transplant Disparities and Sickle Cell Disease
According to research performed at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, patients with kidney failure secondary to sickle cell disease are less likely to receive kidney transplants than patients with chronic kidney disease from other causes, even when registered for a kidney transplant. Although patients with sickle...
Curing Sickle Cell Disease With DNA Modification
Sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia are caused by gene mutations affecting hemoglobin. The former causes erythrocytes to assume a sickle shape, often causing deformed red blood cells to clog arteries. As a result, organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver are deprived of oxygen, contributing to significant pain. Hemoglobin molecules in beta-thalassemia carry...
Acute Kidney Injury and Sickle Cell Disease
People with sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease (SCD) experience faster rates of GFR decline than people with normal hemoglobin phenotypes. This study from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology sought to understand how acute kidney injury (AKI) risk compares in individuals with sickle cell trait, SCD, and individuals with normal hemoglobin phenotypes....
Dr. Victoria Barbosa: Providing Culturally Sensitive Care
In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with dermatologist Dr. Victoria Barbosa, we discuss how to provide culturally sensitive care and overcome language barriers. MD Newsline: How have you been able to implement culturally sensitive care in your practice? Dr. Victoria Barbosa: “For me, the first step in providing culturally sensitive care to patients is approaching...