What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive inherited hemoglobinopathy that affects people predominantly of African or Mediterranean descent. The normal flexible, round red blood cell is transformed into a sickle appearance. These sickled cells have abnormal interactions with the vascular wall endothelium, other blood cells, and clotting components, which can result in thrombosis or hypoperfusion.