Sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disorder is the most common inherited disorder in the world. About 75% (three quarters) of SCD cases occur in Africa. In Nigeria, it affects two out of every hundred children born, and causes suffering for innumerable patients and their families.

Sickle cell disorder is an inherited haemoglobin disorder made up of sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS) and some rare and less common but related conditions such as sickle haemoglobin C disorder (Hb SC) and sickle beta thalassaemia (Hb SBthal). The genes for these conditions arise by mutation but there was a rise in areas where there is or there was a high incidence of the most lethal strain of malaria known – falciparium malaria.

Despite its importance, there are very few dedicated sickle cell centers in Africa.
Lack of proper health education, shortage of sickle cell clinics, and limited research aimed at improving the environment of patients in the underprivileged situation of the world where sickle cell disease poses problems are restrictions to progress that can be made on SCD. Inaccurate diagnosis and genotype testing also contribute to limitations of SCD.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disorder

• A prenatal test can be done before a baby is born to detect if the baby is affected by sickle cell disorder or not. This is done through “DNA Analysing”. Using this method, it is possible to detect genes for haemoglobin A and haemoglobin S before the baby is born.
• A newborn screening is done by extracting some material from the baby just after the baby is born, and examining it through “DNA Analysis” to identify the nature of the genes thereby detecting if the baby is affected by sickle cell disorder or not.