Curing Sickle Cell Disease with Stem Cell Transplantation

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a blood disorder affecting 1 in every 500 African-American newborns. It is characterized by extreme pain and decreased longevity. Currently, the only cure for SCD lies in stem cell transplantation. A well-matched sibling donor is needed for the best chance of a successful transplant. Unfortunately, most children with SCD do not have a matched sibling donor, limiting the number of patients receiving transplants. In a recent report, researchers at Nationwide Children’s used a new medication regimen in SCD patients undergoing stem cell transplants from unrelated donors.Read the whole story at PediatricsNationwide: Making Stem Cell Transplantation Work for Sickle Cell Disease.