Sickle cell anemia in adults maybe cured by bonemarrow transplantation

Sickle cell disease which was believed to be incurable, can be cured by bone marrow transplantation a new study reveals. A study conducted by US National Institute of health revealed that nine out of ten people who were treated with bone marrow transplantation were cured of the disease.

Though bone marrow transplantation was used in children, it was not used among adults due to risk of surgery.

Background

Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterised by sickling of red blood cells resulting in decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood leads to fatigue, severe pain,organ damage etc. Sickling of RBC’s is found mostly among mountain dwellers in Wayand district in kerala.Sickle cell disease is protective against malaria  because it is difficult for malarial parasite to dwell in sickled RBC’.

Treatments used for sickling are  prophylactic antibiotics to fight infections, blood transfusions and hydroxyurea.This new study result will prove beneficial to many adult sickle cell anemia patients and will pave way to innovative treatment methods, in combination with medical therapy.

Reference:medlineplus