predictive factors of severity in sickle cell disease (SCD)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The level to which SCD clinically manifests itself can vary significantly:
- HbSS and HbS/ beta thalassaemia display greatest severity
- severity of sickling depends on the percentage of haemoglobin present
Several genetic and environmental factors may affect the severity of sickling in an individual:
- genetic factors
- a higher than usual HbF level
- coexisting thalassaemia
- double heterozygosity (e.g. - HbSC)
- other linked genetic polymorphism leading to severe or mild phenotypes
- environmental factors - infection, climate, nutrition, psychosocial factors, socioeconomic status
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