Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes blood cells to become hard, sticky and shaped like a sickle or "C." As a result, while traveling through the blood vessels, cells may become stuck and block the flow of blood throughout the body. This may cause a variety of symptoms and medical problems, including bacterial infections, pain, tissue damage, stroke and anemia. Blocked blood flow also can cause damage to the spleen, kidneys and liver.

Normal red blood cells are smooth, donut shaped and contain hemoglobin A, which helps red blood cells transport oxygen through the blood vessels to the body. People with sickle cell anemia have red blood cells that contain hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin that causes the sickle shape change.

An estimated 70,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease and 1,000 babies each year are born with the condition. It affects primarily people of African descent as well as fewer numbers of those of Portuguese, Spanish, French Corsican, Sardinian, Sicilian, Italian, Greek and Turkish descent. The disease also appears in Cypriots and those from Middle Eastern countries and Asia.

UCSF Medical Center is one of only 10 comprehensive care centers for sickle cell anemia funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We provide the full range of patient education, diagnosis, management and treatment for children and adults living with sickle cell disease. In addition to caring for patients, our experts are involved in basic and clinical research studying the mechanisms of sickle cell disease and new treatments such as gene therapy, which may lead to a cure in the future.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call:
Children's Cancer and Blood Disease Program (415) 476-3831

To make an appointment, you may need a referral from the doctor treating your child. Please check with your health insurance company.

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