The Basics
A condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport sufficient oxygen to tissues
What is anemia?
This drug was the first FDA approved treatment for SCD.
What is hydroxyurea?
Patients are required to take _______ in order to prevent rejection of donor cells.
What are immunosuppressants?
SCD disproportionately affects people whose ancestors are from these regions of the world.
What is Africa?
This is the term for when red blood cells take on a crescent or "C" shape in sickle cell disease.
What is sickling?
This is the type of prescribed oral medication for SCD that helps reduce the frequency of pain crises.
What are opioids?
Hydroxyurea increases the levels of _______ in order to decrease symptoms of SCD.
What is fetal hemoglobin?
Sickle cell was used (wrongly) as "evidence" for ________.
What is segregation/white superiority?
Sickle cell disease belongs to this broader category of conditions passed down through biological parents.
What is a genetic disorder?
This is currently the only widely available cure for SCD, involving replacing the patient's diseased blood-forming cells with healthy donor cells.
What is a bone marrow (or stem cell) transplant?
This type of counseling can help individuals and families understand their chances of passing sickle cell disease on to their children.
What is genetic counseling?
________ received $38 million more in funding than SCD research in 2018.
What is cystic fibrosis?
This is the most severe form of sickle cell disease, caused by inheriting two copies of the HbS gene.
What is HbSS (or Sickle Cell Anemia)?
This cutting-edge treatment approach aims to correct the faulty gene responsible for SCD by editing or replacing it at the cellular level.
What is gene therapy?
These programs, conducted shortly after birth, are critical for detecting SCD early so that treatment and monitoring can begin as soon as possible.
What are newborn screening programs?
Despite being one of the most common genetic disorders in the world, SCD has historically received significantly less research funding compared to other diseases affecting a similar number of patients, largely due to this reason.
What is racial bias (or systemic racism / health disparities)?
Sickle-shaped cells cause this dangerous problem in blood vessels, leading to pain and reduced oxygen in tissues.
What is a blockage (vaso-occlusion)?
The process by which stem cells are transferred from a donor to a recipient.
What is allogenic transport?
Research shows that when families receive proper education and support about SCD, patients experience better outcomes in this area of their health journey.
What is long-term disease management?
SCD patients are often dismissed or undertreated for pain in emergency settings because healthcare providers incorrectly assume they are seeking this.
What is drug seeking behavior?