Sickle Cell Anemia Research Paper

Sickle-cell anemia is one of the most widespread blood disorders. It is caused by a default in the hemoglobin and is associated with many chronic symptoms.1, 2 Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder, and chances of having it increases if the parents have it. For example, in Middle Eastern countries, sickle cell anemia is common because of consanguinity marriage and large family sizes.3 Moreover, research in sickle cell anemia have developed in various ways. For example, nowadays, there are some treatments for sickle-cell anemia such as hydroxyurea and long-term blood transfusions.2 But to understand a disease, it is important to know the history and background of it. It is also important to know what people used to think about it. Therefore,

When one of Chicago College of Dental Surgery students suffered from strange symptoms. His doctor, Dr. Irons, started to study his case; with the help of Dr. Herrick. Later on, Dr. Herrick reported the first case of sickled red blood cells. Afterwards, in 1910-1921, physicians tried to understand what was then called Herrick’s anemia. Dr. Mason changed the name Herrick’s anemia to sickle cell anemia in 1922. By 1923, sickle cell anemia was proven to be a real disease by Drs. Sydenstricker and Huck. It was known as sickle cell anemia until 1926. At that time only sever cases were called sickle cell anemia, and the mild conditions were referred to as “sicklemia”. Since the first recorded case of sickle cell anemia was a black guy, people and physicians started to think that it only affected black people. But research in sickle cell anemia has shown that race does not affect genetic disorders. It was recognized that the reason why most sickle cell anemia patients are black was because of malaria. People with sickle hemoglobin have a resistance to malaria. And as medical studies and research grows, people start to get a better understanding of sickle cell