Sickle Cell Program

Yale New Haven Hospital offers a comprehensive program to meet the needs of people living with sickle cell diseases. The Sickle Cell Program’s objectives are to provide

• Comprehensive health care for patients with a family centered approach
• Education for patients and families, health care professionals, and the community
• Research to improve the care of people living with sickle cell disease

Adult Sickle Cell Program

Comprehensive services are available for adults living with sickle cell disease.

• Outpatient care for adults in the Hematology Clinic on the 7th floor of Smilow Cancer Hospital
• Inpatient care is available on East Pavillon 4-7
• Emergency care through the Adult Emergency Department
• Other services as needed

Consultation:  Patients and providers can consult with Smilow Cancer Hospital hematologist 24/7 by calling 203-200-4363.

Learn more about services provided at the Adult Sickle Cell Clinic.

Pediatric Sickle Cell Program

For children, see Pediatric sickle cell and thalassemia diseases at Children’s Cancer and Hematology Clinical Programs.

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited disease of the red blood cells. It is characterized by painful episodes, lower resistance to infections, organ damage, anemia, joint degeneration, strokes and other health problems. SCD typically occurs when a child inherits an abnormal hemoglobin gene from each parent.

Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) occurs when a child inherits one normal hemoglobin gene from one parent and one abnormal hemoglobin gene from the other parent. The individual is a carrier of the sickle cell gene. People with SCT generally are well, but their children might have the disease (SCD) if the other parent also has SCT.

Sickle cell disease is most prevalent in African-American and Latino populations. The disease/trait is found among people whose ancestors came from Africa, Greece, Italy, Arabia, India, Asia and the Caribbean.

Find more information about sickle cell disease: 

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America - Southern Connecticut