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Sickle Cell Disease
Cause
Sickle cell disease is an inherited
disorder. More specifically, sickle cell disease is an
autosomal recessive disease
. This means that to have the disease, you must inherit
a
gene for the disease from both parents.
- 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 don't have symptoms of sickle cell disease nor do their bodies make sickled blood cells. But they can pass the defective hemoglobin S gene to their children.
- Sickle cell disease occurs when a person inherits one defective hemoglobin S gene from each parent.
- Similar sickle cell disorders occur when a person inherits a hemoglobin S gene from one parent and another type of defective hemoglobin gene from the other parent. Sickle cell disease is a sickle cell disorder.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
October 7/, 010
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.
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