Sickle Cell Disease By Brent Durschmidt
Quick Definition ► It is a disorder of red blood cell production that gives red blood cells a sickle shape during hypoxia
Lets go back in time… James Herrick Hahn and Gillespie 1927 Genetic Mutation Inherited, not contagious Malaria
So…who has it? Mostly descendants of: Tropical parts of Africa – E of the Niger River around North Gana, Benin, Central African Republic Asia – Burma, Thailand, Laos,Cambodia,Malaysia,Indonesia,India America – LA, Largely populated African American areas
The Stats
…and how does it affect them? ► Blood Cells They die ► Blood Flow Not so good ► Body Parts/Organs Yeah, they’re affected ► Immune System As open as Detroit’s offensive line
S/S – just to name a few ► Vasoocclusive Crises Necrosis ► ulcers Pain ► Musculoskeletal, chest, abd Priapism Lung Tissue Damage ► Acute Chest Syndrome Heart ischemia/ RVF Renal Crises ► Infarction, pain Stroke Swelling ► Hematological Crises Fall in hemoglobin level Organ damage ► Spleen from sequestration of RBC’s ► kidneys ► Liver Bone marrow function – shunting? ► Anemia Priapism
but wait, there’s more ► Infectious Crises Immunosuppression from loss of splenic function Parvovirus B19 ► Life expectancy: 42 – 48 ► Pregnancy – spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, growth problems ► Clots
Dang, how do I treat that? ► Mostly supportive ► VOMIT (ew) ► Fluid – isotonic crystalloid if possible ► Lots o’ analgesics ► Possibly acetaminophen in ped’s c temp ► Pts will have a hx of blood transfusions, vaccinations, iron tx, Hydroxyuria/ Droxia ► Bone marrow transplant, PCN, vitamins
What about a future? ► Stem Cell research ► Other medicines Nicosan, Senicopac ► Gene therapy
Statistics and the facts ► 70,000 – 80,000 Americans suffer from the disease ► 1 in 500 African Americans have the disease 1 in 12 carry the trait ► 1 in 1000 – 1400 Hispanic Americans ► Sickle cell disease can stand up against Malaria and…
Prodigy has it too… word
That’s just wrong… ► Wikipedia says some dude named Vernon Mason coined the term “Sickle Cell Anemia.” ► Actually, it was James B. Herrick.
Sources ► SCDAA. “What is Sickle Cell Disease?” April ► Wikipedia. “Sickle Cell Disease.” June ► KidsHealth. “Sickle Cell Disease.” June ► DHS/NIH. “What is Sickle Cell Anemia.” August ► Genetics Home Reference. “Sickle Cell Disease.” February ► Prof. Ishita Mukerji. “Sickle Cell Disease.” March ► Bryan Bledsoe. Essentials of Paramedic Care 2 nd Ed. Pg Copyright ► Marshall Lichtman. Williams Hematology 7 th Ed. Pg Copyright 2006.