The findings of a new study on sickle cell disease may lead to a new era in the approach to treatment.
Sickle cell disease (often referred to as sickle cell anemia) is a group of blood disorders in which the blood cells have an abnormal sickle shape instead of the biconcave disk shape. The sickle-shaped cells have a shorter life span (leading to anemia), but they also block normal blood flow leading to pain and organ dysfunction. There is no cure, and treatments that exist are aimed to control symptoms and related complications.