Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic, genetic blood disorder which causes painful attacks (sickle cell crises) that can be difficult for patients to manage. Patients with SCD over their lifetime can have problems which affect practically every part of the body. SCD changes normal, round red blood cells into ones shaped like crescent or half-moons. Normally, healthy red blood cells carry oxygen through the body. However, people with SCD do not have enough normal cells to carry the right amount of oxygen. This causes the sickled cells to get stuck and block blood vessels, which stops the oxygen from getting through the body and causes a lot of pain. When there is a blockage, the hands, feet, abdomen, back, or chest are affected.
Along with pain, symptoms of SCD can include fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, paleness or jaundice, swelling of the hands or feet, and an increased rate of infections. Sometimes, SCD can lead to damage of many organs throughout the body, delayed growth, vision problems, and strokes.
Diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease can be diagnosed by a blood test. Every state requires that all babies, before they leave the hospital, are tested for SCD as part of their newborn screening.
Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease
Treatment of young patients usually includes antibiotics from 2 months to 5 years of age to help prevent infections. Children and adults should be seen regularly in the outpatient clinic to assess for symptoms, screen for complications of the disease and promote general health and well-being. We recommend appropriate immunizations across the lifespan. Many patients living with SCD experience pain on a daily basis and using the right combination of therapies can help to treat this. Developing a pain management plan with a physician or pain management specialist is encouraged at the center.
Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease
BMC’s Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease is the largest center of its kind in New England, serving more than 450 patients annually, from newborns to adults. The center’s multidisciplinary team is committed to providing patients across their lifespan with highly personalized care to manage their symptoms associated with the disease so they can live as normal a life as possible.
The SCD team includes physicians and a nurse practitioner from pediatric and adult hematology, adult and pediatric primary care, and other specialties as well as nurses, social workers, case management and a patient navigator to help guide patients through their care. The program focuses on providing consistent care between the Emergency Department, inpatient services, and outpatient clinics. The program utilizes the pediatric STAR unit and the Infusion Center in the adult Hematology/Oncology clinic for outpatient transfusions and pain management.
Features of the Center
- Largest combined SCD pediatric and adult population within one center in New England
- Studying how sickle cell disease affects the body and investigating new potential treatments
- Expertise in the transition of care from pediatrics to adulthood
- Expertise in management of the complications of SCD with medical and surgical specialists who treat our patients
- Expertise in pain management
- Continued development of new initiatives to improve patient care
Locations and Hours
BMC Adult SCD Clinic
Moakley Building
830 Harrison Avenue, Suite 3200
Boston, MA 02120
617.638.6428
Monday to Friday: 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
BMC Pediatric SCD Clinic
Yawkey Center
Pediatric Specialty Clinics, 5th floor
850 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
617.414.4841
To reach the Pediatric Hematologist on call, phone 617.414.5000 and page #5731.
Monday to Friday: 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.