What is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cells disorders. People with this disorder have distorted red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape. The abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become rigid, sticky and misshapen. The sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal recessive inheritance. SCD pathophysiology is extremely complex and can lead to numerous clinical complications, including painful vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), end-organ damage, and a shortened lifespan.