Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies.

The term sickle cell disease (SCD) (OMIM database No. 603903) encompasses a group of genetic disorders characterized by chronic hemolysis and intermittent episodes of vascular occlusion that cause recurrent episodes of severe pain and a wide variety of other disease manifestations. Specialized comprehensive medical care markedly reduces mortality in infancy and early childhood by preventing some disease-related complications and limiting the severity and sequelae of others.