TheDexterians
Blood is our Gold
Tests, Treatments, and Prognosis
There are several tests used for determining what type of hemoglobin is made by a person's red blood cells. These include:
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Hemoglobin electrophoresist
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Isoelectric focusing
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Chromatography
These tests can determine whether a person has a type of sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait. DNA analysis is used to determine changes in the genes for making hemoglobin. This test indirectly predicts the type of hemoglobin made in the red cells.
Medications
Droxia Oral - This medication is used in people with sickle cell anemia to reduce the number of painful crises caused by the disease and to reduce the need for blood transfusions. It is also used to treat several types of cancer (such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, squamous cell carcinomas).
Hydroxyurea oral - This medication is used in people with sickle cell anemia to reduce the number of painful crises caused by the disease and to reduce the need for blood transfusions. It is also used to treat several types of cancer (such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, squamous cell carcinomas).
Prognosis
In 1973 the average lifespan for people with sickle cell disease was only 14 years. Currently life expectancy for these patients can reach 50 years and over. Women with sickle cell live longer than males. Pain occurs when body tissues are damaged by lack of oxygen, but serious and even life-threatening complications can result from severe or prolonged oxygen deprivation. In some people, the disease may trigger frequent and very painful sickle cell crises that require hospitalization. In others, it may cause less frequent and milder attacks. The most serious dangers are acute chest syndrome, long-term damage to major organs, stroke, and complications during pregnancy such as high blood pressure in the mother and low birth weight in the infant. Children with sickle cell disease are very susceptible to infections, usually because their damaged spleens are unable to protect the body from bacteria.
References:
Sickle Cell Test. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sickle-cell-test
Sickle cell disease. (n.d.). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/sickle-cell-disease