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Sickle cell anemia: Pathophysiology, management, and prospects for the future
Author(s) -
Steinberg Martin H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of clinical apheresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.697
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1098-1101
pISSN - 0733-2459
DOI - 10.1002/jca.2920060410
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , disease , sickle cell anemia , anemia , pathophysiology , pediatrics , pathology , psychiatry
Sickle cell anemia is present in about 1 in 600 Black Americans at birth. It claims the life of many infants, causes pain and suffering in adults, and usually culminates in premature death. We currently understand a great deal about this disease on a molecular, cellular, and clinical basis. The results of years of research are slowly being translated to innovative therapies and improvements in patient care. In this paper I review the pathophysiology of this disorder, highlight the currently available treatment, and discuss new forms of therapy that promise a more direct approach to avoiding the many complications of sickle cell anemia.