Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Therapies to increase fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease
1Boston University School of Medicine, Room E211, 88 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. msteinberg@medicine.bu.edu
Abstract:
The pathophysiology of sickle cell disease originates in the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inhibits this process, and high HbF concentrations reduce the severity of the disease. Drugs with presumed mechanisms of action that perturb the orderly maturation of erythroid precursor cells, induce hypomethylation of HbF genes, bind transcriptionally active elements of these genes, or influence chromatin structure can enhance HbF production in sickle cell disease. Hydroxyurea, a drug that affects erythroid maturation and regeneration, reduces morbidity and mortality in adults with sickle cell anemia. Its use in young children and in combination with other classes of HbF-inducing agents is being studied.
More Related Videos
11:59Detection of Residual Donor Erythroid Progenitor Cells after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Hemoglobinopathies
Published on: September 6, 2017
08:23Characterization of Sickling During Controlled Automated Deoxygenation with Oxygen Gradient Ektacytometry
Published on: November 5, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Erythropoiesis
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
iPS Cell Differentiation
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...