Hematology/Haematology - Anemia/Anaemia: Sickle Cell Disease
Recommendations and Evidence
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited autosomal recessive hematological disorder with a genetic mutation for hemoglobin (hemoglobinopathy) (1). It was so named because of the sickle-shaped appearance of the red blood cells (RBCs). Homozygosity for sickled hemoglobin (HbS) results in sickle cell disease (1). Heterozygosity results in sickle cell trait (2). Under normal physiological conditions, those with sickle cell trait do not generally have the series of health complications as those