Sickle Cell Disease

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Sickle Cell Disease is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle Cell Trait

Disorder Subdivisions

Sickle Cell-Hemoglobin C Disease
Sickle Cell-Hemoglobin D Disease
Sickle Cell-Thalassemia Disease

General Discussion

Sickle cell disease is a rare inherited blood disorder. It is characterized by the presence of sickle or crescent shaped red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the bloodstream. These abnormally-shaped cells become rigid and lodge themselves in the very tiny blood vessels (capillaries) of the peripheral blood system (blood vessels outside of the heart). The capillaries become clogged, preventing the normal flow of oxygen to tissues. Common symptoms associated with sickle cell disease include chest pain, frequent infections, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), and low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia). Sickle cell disease has several recognized forms including sickle cell anemia, sickle cell hemoglobin C disease and sickle cell thalassemia disease. Sickle cell disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)997-4488
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

Sickle Cell Disease Association of Piedmont
1102 East Market Street
P.O. Box 20964
Greensboro, NC 27420
USA
Tel: (336)274-1507
Tel: (800)733-8297
Email: scdap@scdap.org
Internet: http://www.scdap.org

Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Inc.
330 Seventh Avenue, #900
New York, NY 10001
USA
Tel: (212)279-8090
Fax: (212)279-5999
Tel: (800)522-7222
Email: info@cooleysanemia.org
Internet: http://www.cooleysanemia.org

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.
231 East Baltimore Stree
Suite 800
Baltimore, MD 21202
USA
Tel: (410)528-1555
Fax: (410)528-1495
Tel: (800)421-8453
Email: scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org
Internet: http://www.sicklecelldisease.org

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov

Sickle Cell Association of Ontario
3199 Bathurst Street
Suite 202
Toronto
Ontario, M6A 2B2
Canada
Tel: 4167892855
Fax: 4167891903
Email: sicklecell@look.ca
Internet: http://www.sicklecellontario.com

Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group
Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool, L12 2 AP
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 151 252 5696
Fax: +44 (0) 151 252 5456
Email: nikkij@liverpool.ac.uk
Internet: http://www.cfgd.cochrane.org/en/index.html

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Email: ordr@od.nih.gov
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx

Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org

Anemia Institute for Research and Education
151 Bloor Street West
Suite 600
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4
Canada
Tel: 416-969-7431
Fax: 416-969-7420
Tel: 877-992-6364
Email: info@anemiainstitute.org
Internet: http://www.anemiainstitute.org

Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO)
1280 Finch Ave W, Suite 517
Toronto
Ontario, M9M 2Z3
Canada
Tel: (416) 745-4267
Fax: (905) 830-0850
Email: info@sicklecellanemia.ca
Internet: http://sicklecellanemia.ca/index.php

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 4/9/2008
Copyright 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 , 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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