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Sickle Cell Anemia
The Marian Anderson Comprehensive Sickle Cell Care and Research Center was established at St. Christopher’s in 1991 to provide children with medical care, psychological and social services. The Center coordinates acute care, routine follow-up care, and treatment with the anti-sickling medication hydroxyurea, referrals for curative bone marrow transplantation, as well as genetic counseling, patient and family education and counseling, and school and vocational assistance for children of all ages with sickle cell disease.
The Center is one of three regional referral centers licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to treat newborns diagnosed with hemoglobinopathies. It also serves as a regional referral center for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Active collaborations exist with clinical and research programs at Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital, Albert Einstein Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Researchers at the Center are testing new medications and treatments for sickle cell pain and blood vessel problems, and participate in other national research programs to develop a better understanding of this complex disease. New programs are also being developed to help patients reach their fullest potential as individuals, and to support the special needs of families with infants with sickle cell disease. Specialized clinics focus on sickle cell plus lung or heart problems, and a case manager nurse specializes in blood transfusion and iron chelation. Family-centered psychosocial support, blood conservation protocols, and close collaboration with local and national sickle cell community groups are also distinctive features of the sickle cell program.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (215) 427-5096 or (215) 427-5336.
Sickle Cell Online Resources
The Sickle Cell Information Center
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
CDC Sickle Cell Disease
Meet the Team
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has a highly qualified team of board-certified experts who are specially trained to work with the individual and unique needs of infants and pediatric patients.
