Top 10 sickle cell disease stories of 2023
Jan 2, 2024 · No. 7 – Fewer sickle-shaped red blood cells with gene therapy. The experimental gene therapy BCH-BB694 reduced the number of red blood cells that produce faulty hemoglobin S, the hallmark of SCD. The therapy also curbed the tendency of these cells to take on a sickle-shaped form, as revealed by single-cell data from seven patients involved in ...
Vaso-Occlusive Crisis - Sickle Cell Disease News
Jan 4, 2022 · A vaso-occlusive crisis, or VOC, occurs when sickled red blood cells block blood flow to the point that tissues become deprived of oxygen. This in turn sets in motion an inflammatory response as the body tries to rectify the problem. The result is substantial pain, which can affect any part of the body, but most commonly occurs in the back ...
Women with SCD face significant healthcare challenges: Study
14 hours ago · Women with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience significant challenges with healthcare while struggling with both the physical and social toll of the disease, a new study from the University of Pennsylvania reports. Managing physical pain, facing emotional challenges, and feeling stigma from healthcare providers, especially when transitioning ...
38 and counting: Thriving with sickle cell disease
2 days ago · One of the most critical factors contributing to my success is my faith. God has been my rock and empowered me to face sickle cell’s challenges with a positive mindset. In my darkest times, my belief in God has brought comfort and solutions. I’ve learned to thrive, not just survive, as a sickle cell patient. Thriving at 38 is a testament to ...
Enlargement of heart’s left chamber tied to worse disease severity
2 days ago · Enlargement of the left atrium, one of the heart’s upper chambers, is associated with a greater sickle cell disease (SCD) burden for patients, with more emergency department visits and blood test abnormalities, according to a new study from the U.S. A larger left atrium is believed to be a proxy indicator of left ventricular diastolic ...
Stroke rate rising for adults, children with SCD in US: Study
Oct 3, 2024 · Among a total of 7,636 patients, the chances of having a first ischemic stroke — caused by a blocked blood vessel — were 2.1% by age 20 and 13.5% by age 60. For intracranial hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by a burst blood vessel, the chances were 0.5% by age 20 and 6.8% by age 60. While the number of new stroke cases was found to drop ...
Phase 3 trial testing red blood cell exchange in SCD still enrolling
Dec 7, 2023 · The study, called Sickle Cell Disease and CardiovAscular Risk Red Cell Exchange, or SCD-CARRE (NCT04084080), began in 2020 with the support of a $19.2 million grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It’s enrolling up to 150 patients with a high mortality risk, which will be assessed based on biomarkers indicative of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, or chronic kidney problems.
Sickle Cell Patients at Higher Risk of Death From Kidney Disease
Nov 1, 2022 · During that time, 2,194,079 people developed ESKD, 2,018 (0.09%) of whom had an SCD diagnosis. SCD patients were diagnosed with kidney failure at a significantly younger age, by about 10 years, than people without SCD.
As Colder Weather Approaches, I Must Be Mindful of Triggers
Sep 22, 2021 · The cold is a known trigger of sickle cell crises. Our bodies naturally react to the cold by triggering mechanisms that preserve body heat in a process called thermoregulation. During this process, the blood vessels constrict, allowing less blood to flow through the skin. However, when this happens, it makes it even harder for a sickle cell ...
Why Do Mutations for Diseases like Sickle Cell Persist Across...
Jun 30, 2016 · Patricia Inácio, PhD Patricia holds her PhD in cell biology from the University Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, and has served as an author on several research projects and fellowships, as well as major grant applications for European agencies. She also served as a PhD student research assistant in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York, for which she was awarded ...