Treatment for Sickle Cell Has Found a Destination With Baby Stem Cells

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• what is Sickle Cell Anaemia?

Sickle cell anaemia, also known as sickle cell
disease is a group of red blood cell disorders,
which is characterised by anaemia, jaundice,
swelling and pain in the chest, back, arms or
legs.
A baby born with sickle cell anaemia has abnormal
haemoglobin molecules, which is also known as
haemoglobin S. These molecules are responsible
for distorting or destroying the round or
disc-shaped haemoglobin molecules or red blood
cells (RBCs) RBCs, making them look like a sickle
(a C-shaped farm tool) or like a crescent moon. 
Due to their shape and size, when they pass
through the small blood vessels, they get trapped
and tend to slow down or block the blood flow.
Anaemia, being the hallmark symptom, caused due
to the premature destruction of red blood cells
is a direct impact of defective genes from both
the parents.  
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• What are the Signs and Symptoms of Sickle Cell
  Disease?

• Sickle cell disease symptoms usually start
  showing up as early as 4 months of age. The
  symptoms can also occur when the babies are about
  to cross their half-year (6-months) mark. And
  symptoms includes
• severe anemia,
• repeated episodes of infections, fever and pain
  or crises (in the back, joints, chest, and legs),
• painful enlargement of spleen,
• skin ulcers
• heart and lungs disease
•  delayed growth
• vision problems.
• The severity of the symptoms, however, varies
  from one person to another.

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• So, Is There a Way to Treat Sickle Cell Anemia?

Someone suffering from this condition might need
comprehensive care throughout their life.
Medication might help, in fact pain-killers and
antibiotics can manage the pain crises and acute
chest syndrome. Blood transfusion at regular
intervals can also help the patient survive by
minimizing the risk of stroke as a result of the
clogging of the small blood vessels.
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However, unfortunately, till now there has been
no specific cure or treatment for sickle cell
anaemia. But, haematopoietic stem cell
transplantation is considered as  a new cure for
sickle cell disease. The source of the stem cells
can be from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or
umbilical cord (along with the blood). Umbilical
cord blood rich with haematopoetic stem cells
have emerged as an able alternative to bone
marrow stem cell transplant. In fact, a healthy
sibling within the same family, can serve as a
stem cell donor for the first or second born
affected with Sickle Cell Disease. As there is a
high chance that the sibling will not carry the
sickle cell trait or disease and there less
chances graft-versus-host diseases.
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Source https//www.cordlifeindia.com/blog/treatme
nt-for-sickle-cell-has-found-a-destination-with-ba
by-stem-cells/