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Overview
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. Sickle
cell anemia is one of the most common inherited blood anemias. The disease primarily
affects Africans and African Americans. It is estimated that in the United States,
some 50,000 African Americans are afflicted with the most severe form of sickle
cell anemia. Overall, current estimates are that one in 1,875 U.S. African American
is affected with sickle cell anemia.
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