Sickle Cell Anemia: Treatments

How is sickle cell anemia treated?

Although there is currently no certain cure for sickle cell anemia, the symptoms of a sickle cell crisis can be treated. Some people with the disease have mild and infrequent symptoms, but other individuals may have severe or even life-threatening crises. Long-term care for sickle cell anemia focuses on decreasing the frequency of crises and preventing complications. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant or stem cell therapy can provide a permanent treatment for sickle cell anemia, but neither of these treatments is an option for many people.

Treatment for sickle cell anemia crises

Treatments that may be beneficial during a sickle cell crisis include:

• Blood transfusions for severe cases
• Fluid therapy given by mouth or through a vein
• Hydroxyurea (a drug that promotes formation of a different type of hemoglobin)
• Pain medication

Long-term treatments for sickle cell anemia

Long-term treatments are designed to reduce the number and frequency of crises, as well as to prevent the complications of sickle cell anemia.

• Antibiotics to prevent infection
• Blood transfusions
• Counseling to address the stress of sickle cell anemia
• Folic acid supplementation to assist in red blood cell production
• Vaccines to prevent infection

Although bone marrow transplant and stem cell replacement can be effective, permanent treatments for sickle cell anemia, both of these procedures are risky and expensive and are not an option for many patients. Also, because sickle cell anemia is inherited and therefore runs in families, it is often difficult to find an unaffected and suitably matched donor for these procedures.

New medications and treatments are being studied for use in treating sickle cell anemia, including gene therapy. Much of this research is promising and may be helpful in the future for people with sickle cell anemia.

What are the potential complications of sickle cell anemia?

Because sickle cell anemia is a disease of the blood cells and affects all organ systems, there are many potential complications, which can be severe. Left untreated, complications of sickle cell anemia can be serious, even life threatening, in some cases.

You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of sickle cell anemia include:

• Acute chest syndrome (obstruction of blood vessels in the lungs)
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Blindness
• Frequent infections
• Gallstones
• Impotence
• Nerve problems that cause pain, numbness or tingling
• Organ failure or dysfunction (including kidney, liver, spleen)
• Skin ulcerations and infections
• Stroke