SICKLE CELL TRAIT
Facts
- Sickle cell trait is not a disease.
- Sickle cell trait is an inherited condition of the oxygen-carrying protein, hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
- People at high risk for having sickle cell trait are those whose ancestors come from Africa, South or Central America, India, Saudi Arabia and Caribbean and Mediterranean countries.
- Sickle cell trait is generally benign and consistent with a long, healthy life.
Incidence
- Sickle cell trait occurs in about 8% of the U.S. African American population, and in between one in 2,000 to one in 10,000 in the Caucasian population.
- Serious complications are rare in sickle cell trait, but
include:
- Splenic infarction can develop at high altitude
- Bloody urine
- Increased risk for sudden death during prolonged physical conditioning and during exercise at high altitude, presumably in association with rhabdomyolysis
- Risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots) among African-Americans with sickle cell trait appears to be 2-4 times that of African-Americans without this condition
Testing
- Most U.S. states test at birth but most athletes with sickle cell trait don’t know they have it.
- A simple blood test can confirm sickle cell trait
More information can be found at
http://www.ncaa.org/health-safety
