Sickle Cell Anemia
At UMMC, patients receive care from a team that is devoted to treating the complexities of sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that can cause life-threatening complications and requires specialist care.
In sickle cell anemia, abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to change into a crescent shape. The affected red blood cells break down faster than normal, resulting in anemia.
The misshapen red blood cells are not able to pass through small blood vessels. This can result in oxygen not getting to vital organs and can cause severe pain.
At the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), we will help you or your loved one manage sickle cell anemia with the goal of decreasing complications and improving quality of life.
Pediatric Care for Sickle Cell Disease
Our pediatric hematology team can help when you have questions about treating sickle cell disease in children.
Choose UMMC for Sickle Cell Anemia Care
Our specialists have extensive experience managing sickle cell anemia and its related complications.
We provide multiple perspectives in caring for our patients with sickle cell anemia. We work closely with teams throughout the hospital to improve outcomes for patients living with sickle cell disease.
To contact us for more information, call 410-328-7904. If you are an existing patient, please call 410-328-7609.
Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
Treatments and supportive care provided for patients with sickle cell anemia at UMMC include:
- Pharmacologic therapy (medications)
- Red blood cell exchange
- Same-day infusion services
- Allogenic stem cell transplant
- Gene therapy
We also provide care for the many complications related to sickle cell disease. These can include:
- Acute and chronic pain
- Anemia
- Stroke
- Iron overload
- Sickle cell retinopathy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Avascular necrosis (when blood supply to the bone is cut off, causing bone tissue to die and the bone to collapse)
- Asplenia (lack or absence of spleen function)
- Infections
- Jaundice
- Gallstones
Clinical Trials for Sickle Cell Disease
As an academic medical center, our goal is to offer patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials investigating new treatments not yet available, new ways of using existing treatments, or allowing investigators a better understanding of diseases in order to develop new treatments.
To see our active trials for sickle cell disease, search in our clinical trials database and choose "Sickle Cell Disease" for the Disease Site.
Sickle Cell Disease Support Group
Hosted at UMMC, in partnership with the Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association (MSCDA), we have monthly support meetings for those with the disease and their caregivers. Contact the MSCDA for more information on their support groups.
Make an Appointment
We see patients with sickle cell anemia at our downtown campus. To make an appointment with a sickle cell disease specialist, please call 410-328-7904.
If you are an existing patient, please call 410-328-7609.