About Sickle Cell disease

• Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. 
• Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible enough to move easily through the blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells become crescent- or “sickle”-shaped due to a genetic mutation. 
• These sickled red blood cells do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body.
• The blocked blood flow through the body can lead to serious problems, including stroke, eye problems, infections, and episodes of pain called pain crises.

Cause of Sickle cell disease

• • A genetic mutation in the HBB gene causes sickle cell disease. 

• The HBB is a gene is responsible for making a part of the hemoglobin

Treatment for Sickle cell disease

• Sickle cell disease treatment includes medications, transfusions, blood and marrow transplant and gene therapy. Sickle cell disease treatment may begin with antibiotics. 

What’s the difference between sickle cell anemia and sickle cell disease?

• Sickle cell disease(SCD) is an umbrella term for the many different types of sickle cell disorders. 
• Healthcare providers reserve the term “sickle cell anemia” for the types of SCD that cause the most severe anemia.
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Why in News?

• • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has taken efforts for the “joint development and commercialisation” of a low dose or paediatric oral formulation of hydroxyurea (an oral medication generally used to treat certain types of blood cancers)  to treat sickle cell disease in India.

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world.

• The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The Governing Body of the Council is presided over by the Union Health Minister. It is assisted in scientific and technical matters by a Scientific Advisory Board comprising eminent experts in different biomedical disciplines.