On the recordNovember 17, 2010
I rise to talk about a very important health issue--sickle cell disease--that highlights the tremendous progress the scientific community has made over the years. This is a timely opportunity to bring up sickle cell disease because this month marks the 100th anniversary of its discovery. On November 16 and 17, the National Institutes of Health will host a research symposium on sickle cell disease to commemorate the accomplishments of scientists and clinicians over the past century. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells contain an abnormal type of hemoglobin and frequently take on a sickle, or crescent, shape. These defective blood cells can block small blood vessels, which can in turn lead to tissue damage or stroke. A common complication of this condition is severe pain in the limbs, chest, abdomen, and back. Other complications are anemia, jaundice, severe infection, and spleen, liver, and kidney damage. The life expectancy for sickle cell patients is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 years for males and 48 years for females.
