Fertility Concerns and Access to Care for Stem Cell Transplantation Candidates with Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disorder, affecting approximately 100,000 Americans, primarily those of African and Afro-Caribbean descent [1]. Patients with SCD are faced with decreased life expectancy (42 years for men, 48 years for women [2,3]) and severely impaired quality of life [1]. In addition to the symptoms of anemia and pain crises, patients with SCD struggle with various effects of their illness. Because of the high frequency of prepubertal mortality in the past, fertility had not been an area of focus in this population until fairly recently [4].
Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research