To what extent does Hydroxyurea work to treat Sickle Cell Anaemia?
Problem: Suffering From Sickle Cell Anemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is a severe hereditary disease when there is an inadequate amount of erythrocytes (red blood cells) or haemoglobin in the erythrocytes. Haemoglobin beta alongside alpha globin makes haemoglobin which contains 146 amino acids. Haemoglobin beta makes up 98% of the total haemoglobin, whilst alpha globin makes the remaining 2%. Haemoglobin beta protein is produced by the gene HBB that is located in the multigene locus (the locus is on many alleles) of beta globin locus found on chromosome 11, specifically on the short arm position 15.5[18].
The HBA1 and the HBA2 are genes which provide instructions for the production …show more content…
By giving vaccinations and antibiotics to sufferers, it decreases their risk of becoming infected and falling ill. As prevention is better than cure vaccinations against pneumococcal (an infection caused by the Streptococcus which can lead to infections of the lower respiratory tract and the blood [24]) and common flu viruses (which is given yearly to sufferers) help prevent pathogens from causing sickness. In addition, patients are given antibiotics such as penicillin, as the long-term use of penicillin will not pose any risks to your child’s health [21] [22]. In other words using the antibiotic penicillin, for a long duration of time, will not affect your child’s …show more content…
Unfortunately, “Fetal hemoglobin normally drops dramatically after birth” [8] [9]. A newborn baby tends to have around 50-80% fetal hameolgobin. A 6 month old baby tends to have around 8% of HbF and over 6-months 1-2%[23]. The importance of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) in sufferers is due to its high oxygen affinity, which means it does not participate in the polymerization process (were abnormal hemoglobin become jammed in blood vessels, hindering the flow of blood around the body); in effect still delivers oxygen to cells in the body and does not cause server pain in sufferers [33].
Hydroxyurea, however, increases production of red blood cells that contain fetal hemoglobin. This in turn reduces the number of painful events and acute chest syndrome episodes. The effectiveness of hydroxyurea as a treatment to sickle cell anemia is generally attributed to its ability to (See Figure
Problem: Suffering From Sickle Cell Anemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is a severe hereditary disease when there is an inadequate amount of erythrocytes (red blood cells) or haemoglobin in the erythrocytes. Haemoglobin beta alongside alpha globin makes haemoglobin which contains 146 amino acids. Haemoglobin beta makes up 98% of the total haemoglobin, whilst alpha globin makes the remaining 2%. Haemoglobin beta protein is produced by the gene HBB that is located in the multigene locus (the locus is on many alleles) of beta globin locus found on chromosome 11, specifically on the short arm position 15.5[18].
The HBA1 and the HBA2 are genes which provide instructions for the production …show more content…
By giving vaccinations and antibiotics to sufferers, it decreases their risk of becoming infected and falling ill. As prevention is better than cure vaccinations against pneumococcal (an infection caused by the Streptococcus which can lead to infections of the lower respiratory tract and the blood [24]) and common flu viruses (which is given yearly to sufferers) help prevent pathogens from causing sickness. In addition, patients are given antibiotics such as penicillin, as the long-term use of penicillin will not pose any risks to your child’s health [21] [22]. In other words using the antibiotic penicillin, for a long duration of time, will not affect your child’s …show more content…
Unfortunately, “Fetal hemoglobin normally drops dramatically after birth” [8] [9]. A newborn baby tends to have around 50-80% fetal hameolgobin. A 6 month old baby tends to have around 8% of HbF and over 6-months 1-2%[23]. The importance of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) in sufferers is due to its high oxygen affinity, which means it does not participate in the polymerization process (were abnormal hemoglobin become jammed in blood vessels, hindering the flow of blood around the body); in effect still delivers oxygen to cells in the body and does not cause server pain in sufferers [33].
Hydroxyurea, however, increases production of red blood cells that contain fetal hemoglobin. This in turn reduces the number of painful events and acute chest syndrome episodes. The effectiveness of hydroxyurea as a treatment to sickle cell anemia is generally attributed to its ability to (See Figure