Recent Discoveries

The understanding of sickle cell anemia has definitely bettered and changed over the last 10 years. Just in 1998, The Food & Drug Administration approved the drug, Droxia, for reducing episodes in adults with severe cases of sickle cell. Although it is not a cure for the disorder, it has helped with controlling the pain that comes with the sickle cell symptoms.
Early identification of sickle cell disease through screening as a newborn, early initiation of penicillin therapy, close medical monitoring, and early intervention to relieve the symptoms of painful episodes (all somewhat recent discoveries) has lead to life expectancy improving for sickle cell disease!