Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment Options

Diagnosis

More than 40 states in the United States screen newborn babies for sickle cell anemia. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent some of the complications of the condition. Studies have shown that early treatment dramatically reduces the risk of infections caused by sickle cell anemia and associated deaths in children with the condition.

In addition, prenatal tests are available to determine if a baby will have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait -- an inherited condition in which both hemoglobin A and S are produced in the red blood cells, always more A than S. Sickle cell trait is not a type of sickle cell disease, but means that a person is a carrier of the sickle cell gene. People with sickle cell trait are generally healthy and the trait cannot turn into the disease. However, when two people with sickle cell trait have a child, their child may inherit two sickle cell genes -- one from each parent -- and have the disorder.

Couples planning to have a baby can have a simple and painless blood test to determine their type of hemoglobin to see if they have sickle cell trait or a form of sickle cell anemia. Genetic counselors are available to discuss the results of the test and the likelihood of a couple's child having sickle cell trait or disease.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007