Red blood cell disorders

The information here is to provide patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) a brief guide to the condition and other and cell disorders. You can also find useful links and information provided by other services

A blood cell disorder is a condition in which there’s a problem with your red blood cells, white blood cells, or the smaller circulating cells called platelets, which are critical for clot formation. All three cell types form in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside your bones. Red blood cells transport oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues.

White blood cells help your body fight infections. Platelets help your blood to clot. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of one or more of these types of blood cells. Red blood cell disorders affect the body’s red blood cells. These are cells in your blood that carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. There are a variety of these disorders, which can affect both children and adults. Blood disorders that affect red blood cells include: SCD, Thalassaemia & rare inherited anaemia.

Find out about the range of disorders

Sickle cell disorder

Find out more about the abnormality in haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen round the body), which makes the red blood cells become inflexible and sticky.

Thalassaemia

People with thalassaemia have a gene that results in a decrease in the amount of normal haemoglobin produced.

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Rare anaemias

Find out about this group of uncommon blood disorders characterised by a deficiency or abnormality in red blood cells or hemoglobin, which affects the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

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Diamond blackfan anaemia

Diamond blackfan anaemia smptoms can include severe anaemia, fatigue, pale skin, and poor growth. The blood disorder is typically diagnosed in infancy or early childhood, often before the age of one.

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