Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that threatens a number of individuals, stemming from a genetic cause.  One particular group of risk is African Americans, of which one in twelve has the sickle cell trait (Medicine Plus, 2010).  Sickle cell anemia is a particularly serious disease in light of the genetic basis, implications of the condition itself, and the related prognosis for the disease.

Genetic Basis

One worrisome aspect of sickle cell anemia is the cause: genetics.  The cause and risk factors are summed up completely in genetics.  While certain ethnic groups may be more prone to the genetic basis of sickle cell anemia, it is in this basis that one is at risk for developing the dangerous condition.

Genetically speaking, sickle cell anemia is developed from a mutation in the gene that produces hemoglobin (Mayo Clinic, 2010).  Thus, while healthy individuals produce enough of hemoglobin A, the healthy type of hemoglobin, those with sickle cell anemia produce hemoglobin S, which stands for “sickle.”  The passing of the sickle cell is the basis upon which individuals develop the disease of sickle cell anemia.

The extent of sickle cell anemia is seen in the implications of passing sickle cell traits.  The Mayo Clinic (2010) states that two people with sickle cell traits, as it relates to a pregnancy, have a fifty percent chance of having a child that is a carrier.  There is a twenty-five percent chance for both the child having sickle cell anemia or being unaffected and having normal hemoglobin.

The genetic basis is one aspect in sickle cell anemia that is threatening.  As sickle cell anemia is obtained via genetics, there is no way to prevent the disease from being passed on if the parents are carriers.  It should be noted that other options, such as in vitro fertilization, can improve the chances for the child to have normal hemoglobin (Mayo Clinic, 2010).

Implications of the Condition

The implications of sickle cell anemia are found within and beyond the other two points made in this analysis, in the genetic basis of sickle cell anemia and in its prognosis.  The characteristics of sickle cell anemia can have many implications within the health of one who lives with the condition.  The symptoms and problems associated with sickle cell anemia create a number of implications that are troublesome for one with the condition.

The implications of the condition stem from the characteristics of sickle cell anemia, which are important to observe.  As previously discussed, red blood cells contain normal blood, which can be normal or contain the sickle cell trait.  Normal red blood cells are disc-shaped, moving easily through the blood vessels (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2010).  These normal blood cells are dramatically contrasted with sickle cells.

Sickle cells contain the mutation of the gene that produces hemoglobin, as previously discussed.  The sickle shape of the cell refers to the red blood cells as shaped like a “C,” which characterizes sickle cell anemia.  Contrasted to normal red blood cells, sickle cells are not able to move easily throughout blood vessels, leading to sets of unfortunate implications throughout the body of one who is infected with sickle cell anemia.

The implications are particularly worrisome.  The blockage of blood flow in the blood vessels can cause a number of problems.  Anemia, episodes of pain, hand-foot syndrome, jaundice, frequent infections, delayed growth, and vision problems are just some of the symptoms described by Mayo Clinic (2010).

The condition of sickle cell anemia is very troubling for those that possess this illness.  Pain, serious infections, and organ damage are among the serious implications of the condition.  As a result, it is easy to see how sickle cell anemia can affect individuals in such a negative manner.