Access to hematopoietic stem cell transplant for patients with sickle cell anemia

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative therapy for patients with phenotypically severe sickle cell anemia, and survival rates following matched-sibling HSCT are very high. However, despite cure rates much higher than HSCT for malignant diseases, the field has been slow to adopt this treatment modality for sickle cell anemia. This article explores some of the social forces that may contribute to this dichotomy.

Keywords: diversity; healthcare disparities; hematopoietic stem cell transplant; hydroxyurea; sickle cell anemia.