The American Sickle Cell Anemia Association (ASCAA) is an organization that provides quality and comprehensive services through diagnostic testing, evaluation, counseling and supportive services to individuals and families at-risk for Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle Cell Anemia) Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR Topics - What is sickle cell anemia? How is sickle cell anemia inherited? What conditions promote the sickling (distortion) of the red blood cells in sickle cell anemia? How is sickle cell anemia diagnosed? What are the symptoms and treatments of sickle cell anemia? What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with sickle cell anemia? Sickle Cell Anemia At A Glance What is sickle cell anemia? Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease) is a disorder of the blood caused by an inherited abnormal hemoglobin (an oxygen-carrying protein within the red blood cells). The abnormal hemoglobin causes distorted (sickled) red blood cells. The sickled red blood cells are fragile and prone to rupture. When the number of red blood cells decreases from rupture (hemolysis), anemia is the result. This condition is referred to as sickle cell anemia. The irregular sickled cells can also block blood vessels causing tissue and organ damage and pain. Expert

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The vision for a national coordinated approach to addressing issues related to sickle cell disease was unveiled in 1971 when representatives of 15 community sickle cell organizations met at "Wingspread," a Racine, Wisconsin conference center, as guest of the Johnson Foundation. Out of that meeting, the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease was created. The name was changed to Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. in 1994. Our mission, however, remains the same: "To Promote Finding a Universal Cure for Sickle Cell Disease while Improving the Quality of Life for Individuals and Families where Sickle Cell Related Conditions Exists." Highly Reputable

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Sickle-cell disease is a general term for a group of genetic disorders caused by sickle hemoglobin (Hgb S or Hb S). In many forms of the disease, the red blood cells change shape, usually looking much like that of a banana, upon deoxygenation because of polymerization of the abnormal sickle hemoglobin. This process damages the red blood cell membrane, and can cause the cells to become stuck in blood vessels. This deprives the downstream tissues of oxygen and causes ischemia and infarction. The disease is chronic and lifelong. Individuals are most often well, but their lives are punctuated by periodic painful attacks. In addition to periodic pain, there may be damage of internal organs, such as stroke. Lifespan is often shortened with sufferers living to an average of 40 years. Sickle-cell disease occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) from parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is or was common. Sickle-cell disease can occur in any individual of any color or ethnicity, however. Contents 1 Types and terminology 2 Signs and symptoms 2.1 Vaso-occlusive crises 2.2 Other sickle-cell crises 2.3 Complications 3 Diagnosis 4 Pathophysiology 5 Genetics 5.1 Inheritance 5.1.1 Examples 6 Treatment 6.1 Febrile illness 6.2 Painful (vaso-occlusive) crises 6.3 Acute chest crises 6.4 Hydroxyurea 6.5 Future treatments 7 Situation of carriers 8 History 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 External links Highly Reputable

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