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On June 19, the International Day of Drepanocytosis, a rare disease that affects around 70% of the 300,000 to 500,000 children born with haemoglobinopathy worldwide.

Drepanocytosis, or sickle cell anemia, is characterized by the shape of red blood cells that present in the form of a waning fourth (the Arabs call it "moon blood disease"), sickle or banana, causing a great anemia and serious complications.

Since blood is the primary element of our body, any problem that affects it has serious consequences for it, so these patients are subject to many difficult and worrying situations.

It can be very disabling, not only because of the severity of the anemia that is due to the great destruction of red blood cells with sudden worsening of the health situation, but also because of the sequelae that unexpected and extremely painful crises cause.

Haemoglobin diseases (haemoglobinopathies) are among the most common hereditary diseases globally, usually associated with various morbidities and early mortality. The most common hemoglobinopathies in populations living in Portugal are thalassaemias (quantitative deficiencies) and drepanocytosis (qualitative deficiency).

This day still remembers the day of the birth of Walter Clement Noel (1884-1916), the first patient to be diagnosed with this rare disease.

More information on the Portuguese Association of Parents and Patients with Hemoglobinopathies (APPDH).