Current Topics in Sickle Cell Disease: Genetic Therapy to Transfusion
Program Code: 213-TC
Sunday, October 24, 2004
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)

SPEAKERS
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, National Institutes of Health
Karen E. King, MD, Johns Hopkins
Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, Washington University School of Medicine
John F. Tisdale, MD, National Institutes of Health

DESCRIPTION
Sickle cell disease affects a significant proportion of the African American population and poses many challenges to the transfusion services and health-care facilities that provide care for these patients. We are constantly learning new information about the manifestations, complications and pathophysiology of this disease. These discoveries in turn lead us to a wide variety of treatment options. This session will provide an update on sickle cell disease to include what we have learned about some of the devastating complications such as stroke and pulmonary hypertension. Also discussed will be how transfusion and molecular medicine have improved therapeutic options, as well as aggressive blood matching programs with the goal of linking specific donors to specific patients. Last, how this appraoch affects alloimmunization will be explained.

OBJECTIVES

• Describe the pathophysiology of stroke and pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease
• Outline the new therapeutic modalities used to control the manifestations of sickle cell disease
• Explain the role of transfusion therapy in sickle cell disease
• Examine donor to recipient blood matching programs for their impact on alloimmunization

AUDIENCE
Physicians, Technologists, Nurses, Managers/Supervisors

PROGRAM LEVEL
Advanced