- As of 2021, almost 8 million people around the world live with sickle cell disease.
- Most treatment of sickle cell anemia is through invasive surgical procedures.
- The United Kingdom is the first country to approve the use of the world’s first gene therapy for treating sickle cell disease and a type of sickle cell disease called beta-thalassemia.
As of 2021, almost 8 million people around the world live with sickle cell disease — an inherited blood disorder that causes the body’s red blood cells to become misshapen and not last as long as healthy cells.
Researchers estimate that about 250 million people globally carry the gene that causes sickle cell disease.
Treatment for sickle cell disease — also known as sickle cell anemia — typically involves medications and surgical procedures including blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants. These surgical procedures can be invasive and come with potential complications.
Recently, the United Kingdom became the first country to approve the use of the world’s first
Sickle cell disease tends to affect people of African ancestry, while beta-thalassemia tends to affect people who are of Mediterannean,
Sickle cell disease affects the red blood cells in the blood, which are responsible for carrying hemoglobin throughout the body.
Hemoglobin is a protein that binds to oxygen and delivers it to the tissues and organs throughout the body.
The disease causes red blood cells to become misshapen, forming a C or “sickle” shape. These red blood cells do not live as long as healthy ones. This can lead to anaemia.
These cells also become very sticky, causing them to form clumps. This can cause blockages in a person’s veins and arteries, causing pain.
Because sickle cell disease is genetic, a person can only get it if they receive the gene from both…
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