Sickle Cell Disease

In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with Dr. Alecia Nero, hematologist and associate professor in internal medicine and pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, we discuss the impact of sickle cell disease (SCD). We also discuss sickle cell disease funding and research.  Dr. Nero is the Director of UT Southwestern’s Transition Sickle Cell Program and...

We invite you to join us for MD Newsline’s Breakthroughs in Sickle Cell Treatment & Management webcast! The webcast will be held on Monday, June 27, 2022, from 12 – 1 pm EDT. It will be hosted by hematologist Cheryl Mensah, MD, from Weill Cornell Medicine, pharmacist and sickle cell patient advocate Krystal Preston, PharmD, from the University...

For patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), systemic corticosteroid exposure is associated with an increased risk for hospitalization for vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs), according to a study published in Blood. Ondine Walter, from Toulouse University Hospital in France, and colleagues examined the risk for hospitalization for VOE associated with systemic corticosteroid exposure in patients with SCD....

Many adolescent and young men with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers are unaware of fertility concerns associated with the disease, according to a study published in Blood Advances. Leena Nahata, M.D., from The Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues conducted a pilot trial to examine knowledge and perspectives on fertility testing among...

Sickle cell disease (SCD) imposes a considerable burden in terms of overall and out-of-pocket medical costs, with the burden of costs peaking in young adulthood, according to a study published in Blood Advances. Kate M. Johnson, Ph.D., from the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues estimated the total health care and out-of-pocket costs attributable...

Cognitive impairment is a complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) that can severely impact patients’ lives. However, research in this area is lacking. This study, published in Blood, compared the cognitive function of patients with SCD to that of a healthy control group. Patients with mild to severe SCD were recruited from the University of Pittsburgh Medical...

Proposed changes to voluntary federal guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers emphasize that doctors should first try other treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic pain. The non-opioid treatment options suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include prescription medications like gabapentin and over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), as well as physical therapy, massage, and...

As one of the most commonly inherited disorders, sickle cell disease can warrant the need for specialized treatment plans. Especially when it comes to pain, different factors can arise and impact the daily lives of those with sickle cell disease. Therefore, there is a need for individualized care plans when treating acute pain crises from...

Pain, along with swelling and fatigue, is one of the cornerstone symptoms of sickle cell disease. Children with sickle cell disease may often experience painful vaso-occlusive episodes, which require appropriate pain management. In most cases, adequate pain management consists of rehydration, rest, and analgesics. But where do opioids fit into this treatment strategy? Common analgesics...