What is sickle cell disorders?

Some people inherit one sickle cell gene and one other defective hemoglobin gene. This results in various types of sickling disorders. These disorders range from mild to severe. They include hemoglobin SS disease, sickle beta-thalassemia, hemoglobin SC disease, hemoglobin SE disease, and hemoglobin SO disease and hemoglobin SD disease.

Sickle cell disorders are inherited. That means they are passed from parent to child. Children with sickle cell disease have two defective hemoglobin S genes, one from each parent. Various forms of sickle cell disorders occur when a person inherits one hemoglobin S gene (sickle cell gene) from one parent and one other type of defective hemoglobin gene from the other parent.

Normally, a person inherits two genes that tell the body to produce normal hemoglobin A. One gene comes from each parent. People who inherit one defective hemoglobin S gene and one normal hemoglobin A gene have sickle cell trait. These people rarely have symptoms of sickle cell disease. Their bodies don't make sickled blood cells. But, as carriers, they can pass the defective hemoglobin S gene to their children.