This Week in Sickle Cell news February 2nd to the 8th

 By Sean Marshall

This Week there was great advancements in blood transfusions for sickle cell sufferers. According to the Leadership, one of Nigeria’s top news agencies, the Nigeria health sector has had a major breakthrough in stem cell research related to sickle cell disease. According to the article there have been “a successful stem cell transplant where a sickle cell anaemia patient has had their cells replaced with those free from the disease.”

it was explained by The chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Michael Ibadin that “success was achieved through a collaboration with the University of Basel, Switzerland which provided the technical support and the machine identified as cobe spectra which would drain the blood through one arm and replace it through the other arm at the same time.”

It was also mentioned how the human body works with the machine itself. In one particular quote it was explained that “as adults, we have about six litres of blood in us. That blood is divided into two; one part is liquid and the other parts are cells.” It went further on by stating that “These cells are of different types- some are red, some are white while some are in other colours. The red blood cells are the ones that make the blood to have red colouration and the problem is located in that cell for those with the disease, especially victims who survive long enough.”

The whole reason this is such an important scientific breakthrough is that “Other parts of the body may also suffer along with the brain.” According to the article With the transfusion can fix this. “what we have achieved here is total replacement of the entire red blood cells in an individual who is alive and replace them completely with another type of cell”

It was also mentioned that “the machine is such that it doesn’t cause much discomfort. As it takes away blood from one side, it is being replaced immediately from the other side. It is harmless and can also be done for children. We have successfully performed the first one for a 27-year-old patient who is a friend of the department.”

If you’d like to see the original article it can be found here; http://leadership.ng/features/408367/stem-cell-transplant-respite-sickle-cell-patients

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