Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month

The Arkansas Legislature passed an interim resolution, sponsored by Representative Fred Love, declaring the month of September 2022 Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.  Governor Asa Hutchinson issued a proclamation declaring the month of September 2022 Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

In addition, the Junction Bridge in downtown Little Rock shone red on Saturday, September 17, 2022, in honor of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

September is a time to recognize the perseverance of patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD).  There are approximately 1,050 Arkansans diagnosed with SCD.

Sickle Cell Disease

SCD is a genetic disease where the body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells that resemble a crescent or sickle.  These sickle-shaped cells do not live as long as normal, round red blood cells, which leads to anemia.  In addition, the sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in blood vessels and block blood flow, resulting in pain and tissue damage.

SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans.  SCD is inherited when both parents of a child carry the “sickle cell trait.”  Although people of all ethnic backgrounds can have SCD, it predominantly impacts African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans.  The disease affects 1 in 365 African-American births and 1 in 16,300 Hispanic-American births.

Although there is no widely available cure for SCD, gene editing therapeutic approaches are being developed and may offer potential cures for some patients.

inVeritas is proud to work on rare disease advocacy in our state!