Treatments for Sickle Cell Disease

There are no treatments to cure sickle cell disease. Instead, treatment is aimed at managing the various symptoms in an effort to minimize complications. The goals of treatment include:

Managing acute crisis episodes
Managing chronic pain
Managing anemia
Preventing and treating infections
Managing complications and organ damage

Treatments include:

New treatments under investigation include:

Gene therapy
Combination of clotrimazole and magnesium

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.