September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
These medical terms are commonly used in relation to identifying complications associated with Sickle Cell Disease. Knowing and understanding these terms will aid you in having an informed conversation with your physician or allied healthcare professional.
VOC: Vaso-occlusive Crisis is the medical terminology for sickle cell crisis.
Hemolysis: The breaking down or destruction of red blood cells (RBCs.
Ischemic Damage: Damage or the death of tissue due to oxygen deprivation (severe loss of oxygen).
AVN: Avascular Necrosis — Damage to bones and joints as a result of ischemic damage.
Retinopathy: Damage to the retina in the rear of the eye. Either from ruptured blood vessels or from being severed. Inflammation can be a contributing cause of retinopathy.
Thrombi/Thrombus: Blood clots
DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis — Blood clot in the deep vein of a leg or arm.
S Protein Deficiency: A genetic mutation that result in the absence of the S protein. S protein deficiency makes the affected individual susceptible to the development of spontaneous and cascading thrombi.
#SCD #SCTPN #FallenAngelsSCFoundation #AmericanSocietyofHematology @ASHCollab @PCORI