Sickle cell disease is a type of anaemia which occurs when a mutated form of haemoglobin causes red blood cells to become crescent-shaped.  Red blood cells that are shaped this way cannot carry as much oxygen as normal red blood cells.

It is a very serious disease that can cause dizziness, fatigue, organ damage, malaise, delayed development, inflamed fingers or toes, pallor, and shortness of breath.  It is a hereditary condition that is potentially fatal.  It is particularly common in people of African descent and the average lifespan of a person with sickle cell disease is only 50 years.

Doctors in Chicago are now saying they have a viable cure for this condition.  The treatment uses stem cells to renew the body’s ability to create healthy blood cells. 

Felita Sims from Waukegan, a city to the north of Chicago, is one of the many African Americans who have been affected by this disease.  Felita’s father also had sickle cell disease and pass away from complications relating to the illness.

Sims was fortunate enough to be included in a recent trial at the UI Hospital in Chicago.  The trial takes stem cells from a sibling of the test subjects and transplants it into the test subject.  Felita was lucky enough to have a sister to provide the stem cells for her treatment.

One of the lead researchers, Dr. Rondelli, explains the process, saying: “The immune system of the donor is capable of fighting the immune system of the recipient, which we have lowered with immunosuppressive therapy,” Rondelli explained.  The healthy stem cells take over, shutting down the production of mutated blood cells.

Unlike many other stem cell treatments, there is no chemotherapy involved.  That means the treatment carries less side effects.  Researchers will now attempt to refine the treatment and test it with donors who are not related to the recipient.

Source: Chicago Doctors Use Stem Cells To Cure Sickle Cell Disease

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