Bone marrow transplant 'gets rid of' sickle cell anemia

• Date: December 09, 2009
• Source: www.latimes.com

Sickle-cell disease, or sickle-cell anaemia (or drepanocytosis), is a genetic life-long blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications. The sickling occurs because of a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. Life expectancy is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 and 48 years for males and females, respectively.

This condition has been successfully treated in children by way of bone marrow transplants. Treatment has been evading adults as there has been a lack of healthy sibling donors as there is a risk rejection when transplants are made from unrelated donors. The current treatment has been found to be very harsh on adult patients. Researchers have successfully conducted a bone marrow transplant to cure this sickness in adults which has raised hopes for a big number of US patients. The initial results have been promising as the researchers claim to have cured 9 out of 10 patients. Research is still on to test similar treatment from unrelated donors.