How Does Hydroxyurea Work To Treat Sickle Cell Anemia?
Problem: Suffering From Sickle Cell Anemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is a severe hereditary form of anaemia. Anemia is a condition where there is an inadequate amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. HBB also known as haemoglobin beta or Beta globin is 146 amino acids long that makes up most of the haemoglobin in adult humans. HBB protein is produced by the gene HBB that is located in the multigene locus of β-globin locus on chromosome 11, specifically on the short arm position 15.5[18]. Mutation in the HBB gene can lead to the formation of hemoglobin S that results in sickle cell anaemia [2].
When oxygen levels are low in the blood, a mutated form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S aka HbS) alters the red blood cell giving it a crescent-looking shape (see figure 1.11).The abnormal crescent shape mean that red blood cell carry less oxygen, causing illnesses such as: Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), shortage of breath and pulmonary hypertension– where blood pressure in blood vessels (for example the pulmonary artery) that …show more content…
The reduction is annual medical expenses stems from the drug’s ability to lower acute and chronic health problems that would perhaps require more expensive procedures such as blood transfusion. This means patient tend to become more financially stable as less money is wasted to treat the temporary pain which in turn means their welfare and quality of life. Hydroxyurea also “decreases the stickiness of the young red blood cells” [1]. Usually when red blood cells stick to the lining of blood vessel they tend to stick which increase the chances of a SC crisis arising however using this drug reduces the
Problem: Suffering From Sickle Cell Anemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is a severe hereditary form of anaemia. Anemia is a condition where there is an inadequate amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. HBB also known as haemoglobin beta or Beta globin is 146 amino acids long that makes up most of the haemoglobin in adult humans. HBB protein is produced by the gene HBB that is located in the multigene locus of β-globin locus on chromosome 11, specifically on the short arm position 15.5[18]. Mutation in the HBB gene can lead to the formation of hemoglobin S that results in sickle cell anaemia [2].
When oxygen levels are low in the blood, a mutated form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S aka HbS) alters the red blood cell giving it a crescent-looking shape (see figure 1.11).The abnormal crescent shape mean that red blood cell carry less oxygen, causing illnesses such as: Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), shortage of breath and pulmonary hypertension– where blood pressure in blood vessels (for example the pulmonary artery) that …show more content…
The reduction is annual medical expenses stems from the drug’s ability to lower acute and chronic health problems that would perhaps require more expensive procedures such as blood transfusion. This means patient tend to become more financially stable as less money is wasted to treat the temporary pain which in turn means their welfare and quality of life. Hydroxyurea also “decreases the stickiness of the young red blood cells” [1]. Usually when red blood cells stick to the lining of blood vessel they tend to stick which increase the chances of a SC crisis arising however using this drug reduces the