News
26/10/2012
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder characterized by the malformation of hemoglobin A in erythrocytes. Among the sickle cell diseases, the most frequent ones are sickle cell anemia (HbSS), S thalassemia or micro-skeletal disease and the double heterozygoses, HbSC and HbSD, with sickle cell anemia being the most serious and the most common of this group. The main symptoms result from the difficulty of erythrocytes with mutant hemoglobins to exert their role in the transport of gases through the body, and among them are the painful crises, mainly in the muscles, bones and joints; painful swellings in the ankles and wrists, especially in early life; chronic anemia, due to destruction of erythocytes and jaundice.