Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of genetic blood disorders. A person inherits SCD from their parents when they inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene, one from each parent.
This hereditary condition affects the shape of a person’s red blood cells, which can cause them to get stuck and block the flow of blood.
Sickle cell disease is genetic. In order to develop SCD, a person needs to inherit a specific gene from both of their parents. Together, these genes affect the development of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
The genes lead to the creation of abnormal hemoglobin, which results in red blood cells that are hard, sticky, and C-shaped, which gives the disease its name.
As sickle cell disease is genetic, people have it from birth.
Learn more about sickle cell blood cells.
For a person to develop sickle cell disease, they must inherit an abnormal hemoglobin gene from both parents.
A person with one abnormal hemoglobin gene and one typical hemoglobin gene will have sickle cell trait.
People with sickle cell trait do not usually experience any symptoms or health differences, but they can pass on an abnormal hemoglobin gene to their child.
If
If one parent has sickle cell disease and one has the sickle cell trait, there is a 50% chance their child will have sickle cell disease and a 50% chance their child will have sickle cell trait.
If both parents have the sickle cell trait:
- there is a 50% chance the child will have sickle cell trait
- there is a 25% chance the child will have sickle cell disease
- there is a 25% chance the child will not have sickle cell trait at all
Sickle cell disease is the
According to the American Society of Hematology, approximately 70,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. have SCD.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that
The most severe form of SCD is sickle cell anemia.
If parents are considering having a child and are concerned about sickle cell trait, here are some steps they can take.
Get tested for sickle cell trait
Both parents can undergo a simple blood test called hemoglobin electrophoresis or a sickle cell screening test to determine if they carry the sickle cell gene.
If both parents have sickle cell trait, there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy their child will have sickle cell disease.
Consult a genetic counselor
A genetic counselor can help explain the risks of passing on sickle cell disease, provide detailed information about inheritance patterns, and discuss reproductive options.
They can also help interpret test results and support decision-making.
Consider prenatal testing
If both parents carry the sickle cell trait, prenatal tests, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a doctor can perform these tests during pregnancy to check for sickle cell disease in the fetus.
These tests can determine if the fetus has inherited one or two copies of the sickle cell gene.
Explore other reproductive options
Some couples may consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to ensure the embryo does not inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene.
Parents may also wish to consider donor eggs or sperm from someone without the sickle cell trait to reduce the risk.
Understand the impact of sickle cell trait
If one parent has sickle cell trait and the other does not, their child may inherit the trait but will not develop sickle cell disease.
Knowing this can help parents make informed decisions about family planning.
By getting tested and consulting professionals, parents can better understand the likelihood of passing on sickle cell disease and explore options to manage that risk.
In general, people with sickle cell disease have shorter life expectancies than people who do not have one of these blood disorders. In the U.S., the estimated life expectancy is
A person’s outlook will depend on their access to appropriate treatment and their available options for managing the disease.
Many people who have sickle cell disease have difficulties accessing treatment and screening, however. They also may face stigmatization when speaking with doctors.
Support for sickle cell disease
In the U.S., the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America aims to connect people with clinical trials that might help them. It also provides support, education, and resources to individuals and families.
The CDC and the American Society of Hematology have created
Most people with sickle cell disease should be in contact with a doctor
Which parent carries the sickle cell trait?
Either parent can carry the sickle cell trait, but both parents must carry it for their child to develop sickle cell disease.
Can white people get sickle cell anemia?
White people can get sickle cell anemia. People of any race or ethnicity can get this disease, so long as both of their parents pass on the sickle cell trait.
However, it is much more common in people with an African heritage. The CDC reports that
Can you develop sickle cell or are you born with it?
People are born with sickle cell disease and cannot develop it later in life.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder caused by inheriting an abnormal hemoglobin gene from both parents.
People can inherit an abnormal hemoglobin gene from a parent if a parent has sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait, which is when someone has one abnormal hemoglobin gene.
While sickle cell disease can have a significant impact on a person’s life, there are many treatment options for managing the disease if a person can access them.
Prospective parents can also undergo genetic counseling to learn more about the potential heritability of sickle cell disease.
