Question

identify two mechanisms that contribute to anemia in patients with SCD.

Answer 1

Sickle cell disease is a disease which affect the red blood cells and distract the oxygen transport through blood.

Sickle cell disease lead to anemia by 2 mechansims.

Firstly the sickle cells are morphologically differ from normal red blood cells. Normally red blood cells are quite elastic and biconcave disc shaped. It will help the cells to move easily through capillaries. While in sickle cell disease the cells losss their elasticity and it is difficult to move through the capillaries. This will restrict the movement of red blood cells through small capillaries and causes deficency of oxygen in the tissues. Also it may leading to vessel occlusion and ischaemia.

Second mechanism is during the biconcave shape they exist with higher surface area. So the blood cell can carry higher amount of oxygen at a single time. While the sickle cells are not carring much amount of oxygen and the sickle cells can function only 10 to 20 days after it the cells become destroyed. Normally the red blood cell functioning for 90 to 120 days. Due to this decreased life span there is hoigher rate of destraction present and anemia occur.