What kind of anemia do patients with sickle cell disease have?
1 Answer
Oct 9, 2016
Sickle cell anemia is a genetically inherited disorder.
Explanation:
An abnormality in hemoglobin results in the deformation of red blood cells into rigid , sickle shaped cells. This leads to health problems like bacterial infections and stroke.
The actual anemia of the illness is caused by haemolysis -- destruction of the red blood cells, due to their shape.
Although the bone marrow attempts to compensate by creating new red cells, it does not match the rate of destruction.
Healthy RBC's typically function for 90 to 120 days , but sickled cells only last for 10 to 20 days.
