Recent studies suggest that sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hypercoagulable state contributing to vaso-occlusive events in the microcirculation, resulting in acute and chronic sickle cell–related organ damage. In this…
Inflammation plays a critical role in the complex pathophysiology of sickle cell disease and drives both the acute and chronic processes leading to vascular injury. Mediators of inflammation, such as…
Low global arginine bioavailability (GAB) is associated with numerous complications of SCD including early mortality. Mechanisms of arginine dysregulation involve a complex paradigm of excess activity of the arginine-consuming enzyme…
P-selectin on endothelial cell surfaces is central to impaired microvascular blood flow in sickle cell disease (SCD). Restoration of blood flow is expected to provide therapeutic benefit for SCD patients,…
The pathophysiology of vasoocclusion is thought to involve a wide variety of adhesive interactions involving erythrocytes, leukocytes, and the endothelium. Selectins are expressed by leukocytes, platelets, and the endothelium, among…
Data suggest a role for adenosine signaling in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Signaling through the adenosine A 2A receptor (A 2A R) has demonstrated beneficial effects. Activation…
This review presents the indications and contraindications (pros and cons) for the potential use of erythropoietin (Epo) as a treatment in β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia (SCA). Its high cost…
Fetal globin (gamma globin; HBG) is normally expressed during fetal life and prevents the clinical manifestations of beta hemoglobinopathies before birth. HBG genes are normally integrated in hematopoietic stem cells…
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) physiology, also called reperfusion injury, instigates vascular and tissue injury in human disease states. This review describes why sickle cell anemia should be conceptualized in this fashion and…
The pathophysiology of sickle cell disease involves the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin in its T state, which develops under low oxygen saturation. One therapeutic strategy is to develop pharmacologic agents…
