sources:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhatIs.html
http://www.innvista.com/health/ailments/anemias/sickhist.htm
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-sickle-cell-disease

Sickle Cell

Foundations;

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc (SCDAA):http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/

This national fundraising and awareness initiative is designed to focus on education and funding for sickle cell disease programs, treatment and research. The campaign will motivate and empower communities nationally to go above and beyond the call of duty to enhance and save the many lives affected by this disease.

Current research

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has one of the largest and most active Sickle Cell Disease Programs in the nation. St. Jude treats approximately 800 children per year with sickle cell disease. St. Jude has several labs, which perform various research on sickle cell disease. These labs perform basic science and translational research. Basic science involves theoretical research which is conducted in the lab. Translational research brings the research from the lab to the patient.
In 2008, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute named St. Jude as one of 12 institutions nationwide to participate in the Basic and Translational Research Program on sickle cell disease. The BTRP funded 2 projects at St. Jude under this program.

• One project funded by in the BTRP is led by Dr. Derek Person. It is designed to include a gene therapy solution on sickle cell disease. It has both a basic science and translational research component.
• The second project is led by Dr. Tuomanen, Infectious Disease chair. This project will study pneumococcal infection in patients with sickle cell disease from a lab prospective. This project also has both basic science and translational components.

Prevention

• Getting enough fluids in your body.
• Getting enough oxygen.
• Quickly treating infections.

Treatment

• Thers is NO known cure besides a bone marrow transplant.

How is sickle-cell diagnosed?

• A hemoglobin electrophoresis is a blood test that can determine if a person is a carrier of a specific sickle cell trait, or has any of the diseases associated with the sickle cell gene.
• Early diagnosis in providing proper preventative treatment for some of the devastating complications of the disease.
• Many states provide routine newborn screening blood tests in order to begin proper treatment as soon as possible.