About Iron Overload and Sickle Cell Disease
Transfusions help many people with sickle cell disease. But as few as 10 blood transfusions may overload the blood and body with iron. And iron overload is a potentially dangerous health risk. Fortunately, proper medical care can be “stronger than iron.”
If you receive blood transfusions, you may qualify for a free educational program called Ask About Iron. Get a Doctor Discussion Guide that can help you ask the right questions. And find out about new ways you can lighten the iron load on your body.
Why People With SCD Get Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions can be an important part of treatment for people with sickle cell disease.
- For some children with sickle cell disease, regular blood transfusions can reduce the yearly risk of stroke by over 90%. This was shown in the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (the STOP 1 study).*
- A follow-up study (the STOP 2 study)** showed that the risk of a second stroke increased after regular blood transfusions were discontinued.
- Blood transfusions may be used to treat some of the serious health problems caused by anemia, such as shortness of breath.
- Some physicians believe that blood transfusions may also provide relief from pain or other symptoms of sickle cell disease.
*Adams RJ, McKie VC, Hsu L, et al, Prevention of a first stroke by transfusions in children with sickle cell anemia and abnormal results on transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(1):5-11.
**Adams RJ, Brambilla D. Discontinuing prophylactic transfusions used to prevent stroke in sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(26):2769-78.
Iron overload can damage your body.
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