What is Sickle Cell Trait?

Sickle cell trait refers to a genetic condition in which an individual has inherited a normal hemoglobin gene from

one parent and a sickle hemoglobin gene from the other parent. Sickle cell trait is not sickle cell disease, nor will it

ever become sickle cell disease. It simply means that the red blood cells contain both normal hemoglobin and sickle hemoglobin.

An individual with sickle cell trait will have no medical problems under ordinary circumstances and thus may not know he or she has the trait. It is extremely important to know if both parents have sickle cell trait, as there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have a child with sickle cell anemia, the most common form of sickle cell disease.

Additionally, there are several hundred other types of hemoglobin, with the most common being hemoglobins C, D, E and beta thalassemia. These, in conjunction with the sickle cell gene, can create other variations of sickle cell disease.

PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE

A person with sickle cell trait has hemoglobin type AS.  If a person with sickle cell trait has a child with a person who has sickle cell trait or another hemoglobin trait, there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have a child with sickle cell disease.  Please see the examples below for the different possibilities of sickle cell disease

Please call our office for more information on the inheritance patterns for sickle cell disease. This information is often misunderstood when read.