Sickle-cell anemia
Sickle-cell anemia
Sickle-cell anemia (pronounced: /ˈsɪkəl sɛl ænɪˈmiːə/) is a genetic disorder that affects the red blood cells in the body. The term "sickle-cell" refers to the abnormal, crescent shape of the affected red blood cells, while "anemia" refers to a condition where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues.
Etymology
The term "sickle-cell anemia" is derived from the English words "sickle" and "cell", referring to the shape of the affected red blood cells, and "anemia", a Greek word meaning "lack of blood". The condition was first described in 1910 by American physician James B. Herrick.
Definition
Sickle-cell anemia is a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels. It is most common among those of African descent.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sickle-cell anemia can vary and may include anemia, episodes of pain, swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections, and delayed growth or puberty.
Causes
Sickle-cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the HBB gene, which provides instructions for making beta-globin, a component of hemoglobin. This mutation results in the production of abnormal hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin S, which distorts red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape.
Treatment
Treatment for sickle-cell anemia typically involves managing symptoms and avoiding crises. This may include medications, blood transfusions, and in some cases, a bone marrow transplant.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sickle-cell anemia
- Wikipedia's article - Sickle-cell anemia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski