What is “Sickle Cell”?

Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disease that is passed to the child when both parents have the Sickle Cell trait. While Sickle Cell is predominantly associated with those from African descent, anyone can have the disease or the genetic trait to pass on. About one of every ten black persons have the Sickle Cell trait. Approximately 1 in 500 persons of African descent are affected by the disease. While the disease is often debilitating and even deadly, successful treatments are becoming more and more of a reality with the advance of medical science.

History of Sickle Cell

In 1904, an African American student from the West Indies was examined by a Chicago Physician and found to have crescent shaped red blood cells. This was to be the first known case of Sickle Cell Anemia. The patient was kept under observation for six years, during which time he developed many of the symptoms which we now recognize as typical of Sickle Cell Anemia.

In vitro studies were introduced in 1917 to show sickling occurred with a depletion of oxygen.

No further progress was made until 1949 when electrophoretic mobility formed the premise of an abnormal molecular structure. Further studies showed that some patients only had a small amount or a single dose of the abnormal hemoglobin and were referred to as “traits”, while other had a double dose and were considered to have Sickle Cell Disease.

In 1957, the substitution of a single amino acid which caused the abnormal hemoglobin was discovered and opened the gates for further genetic studies. To date, there are over four hundred abnormal hemoglobins identified.

These studies led to the formation of the Indianapolis Sickle Cell Foundation in 1970 under the direction of Rev. Boniface Hardin O.S.B. and Dr. Raymond O. Pierce with the purpose of identifying members of the community who had either Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Trait. With the aid of funding provided by the Sickle Cell Anemia legislation, the Indianapolis Sickle Cell Center developed a comprehensive program to provide abnormal hemoglobin screening, counseling and education for the Indianapolis area.

The center continues to this day, operating with funds from the Indiana State Department of Health, United Way and private donations, to be of vital importance to Indianapolis as over 2,000 people are screened each year with counseling of the clients who exhibit any abnormal hemoglobin; several thousands are reached through education programs and many clients are served through the Outreach and Support Programs.