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What is SC disorder (disease) |
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| What
is Sickle Cell Disorder ? |
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Who is at
risk? |
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How do you
get the disorder? |
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What
is Sickle Cell Disorder ? |
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Sickle cell and thalassaemia
disorders are both blood disorders (haemoglobinopathies)
affecting haemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying substance in red
blood cells). Sickle cell disorders predominantly affect
people whose ancestry is African/Caribbean and Middle Eastern.
Thalassaemia predominantly affects people from Asian,
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. Inheritance of
affected genes from both parents may result in severe
haemoglobin disorders (e.g. Sickle cell anaemia or
thalassaemia major). |
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Who is at
risk? |
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People who are of African, Caribbean and Mediterranean origins
are at 'risk' of sickle cell disorders.
People who are of Asian, Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and
African origins are at 'risk' of thalassaemia.
Caucasian people are also affected, but this is less common. |
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How do you
get the disorder? |
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If both parents have sickle cell or thalassaemia trait, there is
a one in four chance (25%) that in each pregnancy the child will
have sickle cell or thalassaemia disorder.
The Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Support Project provides genetic
counselling which gives individuals the opportunity to discuss
the several options for making informed decisions. |
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