Sickle cell anemia affects about 72,000 Americans, making it the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sickle cell anemia is an illness in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Sickle cell anemia is genetic, and the likelihood of developing the disorder depends on family history.
Genetics
In order for a child to develop sickle cell disease, both parents must carry the gene for sickle cell disease. If a child's parents both contain the gene for sickle cell, the chances are one in four that the child will inherit the two sickle cell genes necessary to have sickle cell disease, according to Harvard University. Harvard staff go on to explain that if one parent has a normal hemoglobin gene and the other parent has a sickle cell gene, then a one in two chance exists that a child will inherit one normal gene and one sickle cell gene and develop what is known as sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait carry the gene of sickle cell disease but rarely develop any problems related to the disease as they grow older.
Effects
Sickle cell anemia is a disease caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin beta gene, according to the National Institutes of Health. Normal red blood cells are flexible, round disks with thick edges that move smoothly through the blood vessels. Hemoglobin protein in red blood cells carries oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body. In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells become warped and sickle-shaped. These sickle-shaped cells are stiff and easily broken, making it difficult for them to travel through blood vessels, causing blocked blood flow and a decreased oxygen supply, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.
Risk Factors
At least one parent must carry the gene for a person to develop sickle cell trait. Both parents must possess the sickle cell gene for a person to develop sickle cell disease. Sickle cell anemia is most common in African-Americans, affecting one in every 500, according to the National Institutes of Health. The gene is also common in people with Spanish, Mediterranean, Indian and Middle Eastern ancestry.
Testing
If people suspect that they or their child carries the gene for sickle cell disease, they can ask their physician to perform a test known as hemoglobin electrophoresis, which can reliably indicate whether a person has sickle cell trait. Harvard University explains that in many states, newborns are tested at birth to look for sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait.
Considerations
Sickle cell anemia is a complex disease and many factors determine a person's risk for inheriting the disease. People who suspect that they or their children may have the sickle cell gene can talk to their physician about getting tested. People who suspect they may have the gene but have not yet had children can often undergo genetic testing prior to conceiving and speak with a genetic counselor about the potential risks.
