Sickle Cell Smart

A history of severe pain episodes and coexisting organ conditions may increase the risk for severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization in individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a study published in Blood Advances. Lana Mucalo, M.D., from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and colleagues established the SECURE-SCD Registry to collect...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects Black individuals. Unfortunately, Black people in the United States and abroad experience racism, which has been known to worsen mental health and overall quality of life.  Given that social support is one possible buffer to the negative health impacts of racism, this cross-sectional...

Young adults must navigate a period of healthcare transition, facing new logistical and economic barriers in the adult healthcare system. Moreover, many young adults change or lose insurance. While this transition is difficult for all young adults, those with sickle cell disease (SCD)—who typically have a high need for healthcare utilization—are particularly vulnerable.  As a...

One complication patients with sickle cell disease face is osteonecrosis of the femoral head, requiring treatment with total hip arthroplasty. This study, published in HIP International, analyzed the impact of sickle cell disease on postoperative outcomes following total hip arthroplasty. Patients were identified using a national insurance claims database along with relevant CPT and ICD-9/10 codes....