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Unravel the Science of Ongoing VOC Damage in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex genetic disorder that goes beyond red blood cells and early on progresses to a chronic vascular disease.¹ Silent ongoing vaso-occlusion that drives the chronic nature of the disease is caused by multicellular adhesion among endothelial and blood cells, and is the result of upregulation of specific adhesion mediators.^2,3 Vaso-occlusion can culminate in vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs)—the clinical hallmark of sickle cell disease. VOCs are associated with decreased quality of life and increased risk of organ damage and death.^4-6

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References: 1. Conran N, Franco-Penteado CF, Costa FF. Newer aspects of the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease vaso-occlusion. Hemoglobin. 2009;33(1):1-16. 2. Zhang D, Xu C, Manwani D, Frenette PS. Sickle cell disease: challenges and progress. Neutrophils, platelets, and inflammatory pathways at the nexus of sickle cell disease pathophysiology. Blood. 2016;127(7):801-809. 3. Habara A, Steinberg MH. Genetic basis of heterogeneity and severity in sickle cell disease. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016;241(7):689-696. 4. Puri L, Nottage KA, Hankins JS, Anghelescu DL. State of the art management of acute vaso-occlusive pain in sickle cell disease. Paediatr Drugs. 2018;20(1):29-42. 5. American Society of Hematology. State of Sickle Cell Disease: 2016 Report. Washington, DC: 2016. Available at: http://www.scdcoalition.org/report.html. 6. Piel FB, Steinberg MH, Rees DC. Sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(16):1561-1573.

Learn more about the ongoing damage in SCD and the impact of VOCs

The pathophysiology of SCD goes beyond red blood cells and progresses to chronic vascular disease

VOCs are the hallmark of SCD and caused by multicellular adhesion

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in the United States

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