Risk Factors for Sickle Cell Disease

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

The only way to get sickle cell disease is to inherit two defective genes that cause sickle cell diseases. However, the following factors make a baby more likely to be born with sickle cell disease:

Genetic Factors

Children who receive two abnormal genes (one from each of their parents) will have sickle cell disease. Children who receive one abnormal gene and one normal gene usually have no symptoms and are said to have “sickle cell trait.” They can, however, pass their abnormal gene on to their own children, which, if combined with a sickle cell gene from the other parent, will cause a child to have sickle cell disease.

Ethnic Background

The vast majority of people with sickle cell disease are of sub-Saharan African descent. In the United States, this accounts for about 90% of all sickle cell disease patients. Other people at risk for sickle cell disease are those whose ancestors came from South America, Cuba, Central America, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

References

Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 22nd ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2003.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ .

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America website. Available at: http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/ .

Weiner CM. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine . 17th ed. New York, NY: McGraw – Hill; 2008.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.