.svg?iar=0&hash=F6049510E33E4E6D8196C26CCC0A64A4){kind=logo}
/hfh-logo-main--white.svg?iar=0&hash=ED491CBFADFB7670FAE94559C98D7798){kind=logo}
Sickle Cell Disease
The Henry Ford Sickle Cell Program provides adult comprehensive care in Michigan.
We understand that adults who have sickle cell disease are not patients in the traditional sense. Instead, we embrace the notion that people living with sickle cell are “warriors”—courageous fighters who remain in a state of constant preparation for the mental and physical battle with sickle cell disease.
Our program focuses on minimizing healthcare disparities by providing accessible and equitable care for all adult warriors. For each person, we work to achieve three primary goals:
- Improve quality of life and prevent organ damage
- Reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations
- Manage acute pain crises
Seeking care?
Contact our team by calling (888) 246-6424 or request an appointment online.
Why choose the Henry Ford Sickle Cell Program?
- Dedicated, multidisciplinary team: Our team consists of hematologists, advanced practice providers, dietitians, social workers, community health workers, as well as experts in pain medicine. These specialists collaborate to provide the most appropriate treatment to each adult warrior during comprehensive care visits.
- Adult care transition: Sickle cell disease is present from birth, but as warriors transition into adulthood, the care needs change. We work with the largest pediatric sickle cell disease programs to help streamline this transition, teaching each adult warrior how to take charge of their own health and live a fulfilling life.
- Comprehensive care clinic: All warriors are a part of the multidisciplinary team and are involved in developing their plan of care. This starts with the first comprehensive care visit and continues with every follow-up visit.
- Comprehensive Sickle Cell Pain Clinic: Many people with sickle cell disease live with chronic pain. This requires long-term management plans that may include medication, infusions, injections, physical therapy, counseling, nutrition services, integrative therapies such as yoga and more. We are here to help each warrior on their journey to optimal and safe pain management.
- Sickle Cell Day Clinic: We provide timely and effective acute pain management as an alternative to emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This service is available to warriors established within the program for same-day or next-day appointments for both pain management and hydration.
- Specialty referrals: When necessary, we also help streamline referrals to other Henry Ford Health specialists in several areas, such as nephrology, pulmonology and orthopedics.
-
The History of Sickle Cell Treatment in DetroitThe Henry Ford Sickle Cell Program is building on a rich legacy of sickle cell advancements in the region.
For more than 50 years, Detroit has served as an epicenter of sickle cell disease screening, treatment and research, including such initiatives as the Sickle Cell Detection and Information Center, and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America of Michigan—which was one of the key drivers for creating the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease (known today as the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America).
We are honored to continue this legacy as we provide leadership and the most innovative treatments to the sickle cell community, so that all warriors can enjoy the highest quality of life possible. -
What Is Sickle Cell Disease?Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that creates mutations in red blood cells, making them form a “C” or sickle shape instead of a circle. This can make it difficult for these cells to bend or move easily through blood vessels. Without proper blood flow, your red blood cells cannot deliver hemoglobin—the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen—to the rest of your body.
-
Who Is at Risk for Sickle Cell?In the United States, sickle cell disease predominately affects African Americans. It’s present from birth and begins to affect red blood cell development around 10 to 12 weeks old. All newborns are screened for sickle cell disease. Prenatal genetic testing can also identify sickle cell disease before birth.
-
What Are the Symptoms and Complications
Common symptoms include:
- Anemia: Those with sickle cell have fewer red blood cells than those without sickle cell disease, which means they have anemia. This is because healthy red blood cells can live for up to 120 days, while sickle cells break down after 10 to 20 days.
- Pain crises: Sickle cells are rigid and sticky, causing them to build up and block blood flow in tiny blood vessels in the abdomen, chest or joints. These blockages can cause episodes of severe pain that last for a few hours or days. Severe pain crises may require treatment in the hospital.
Because sickle cell disease limits the amount of oxygen that organs receive, many complications can arise over time, including:
-
What Types of Treatments Do You Offer?Sickle cell treatment
Left untreated, sickle cell disease can be difficult to live with—and can even lead to an early life expectancy. But several sickle cell treatments can help manage complications of the disease:
-
Hydroxyurea: This is taken daily in pill form. It decreases pain, decreases acute chest syndrome, blood transfusion and even has even been shown to increase life expectancy.
- Chronic transfusion therapy: This monthly sickle cell treatment removes someone’s sickled blood and replaces it with healthy blood.
- L-glutamine: Taken daily has been shown to reduce pain and acute chest syndrome.
- Voxelotor: Taken daily to prevent red blood cells from sickling and improve hemoglobin.
- Crizanlizumab: This IV medication is given monthly. It prevents red blood cells from sticking to blood vessels, reducing pain crises.
- Allogeneic stem cell transplant: This replaces sickle-forming stem cells with a donor’s healthy stem cells. A successful allogeneic stem cell transplant has the potential to cure sickle cell disease.
-
Hydroxyurea: This is taken daily in pill form. It decreases pain, decreases acute chest syndrome, blood transfusion and even has even been shown to increase life expectancy.