Benefits and Risks

Bone Marrow Transplant

Gene Therapy

Chronic Transfusions

Hydroxyurea

You may be cured, but it might not work for everyone. Some people cannot do these treatments.

Yes, but not for everyone.

You will have less pain, because the treatment helps with pain crises.

Yes, but this treatment can cause pain.

Yes

Yes, but you can still have a pain crisis.

It prevents acute chest syndrome (ACS). This is when your sickle cells block blood flow to your lungs.

Yes

Yes, but you can still get ACS.

After this treatment, you will not need to go to the hospital as often as before for sickle cell problems.

Yes, but you will be in the hospital for transplant.

Yes, but you will be in the hospital for gene therapy.

Yes

You will have smaller chance of having a stroke that is caused by sickle cell disease.

Yes

It can stop or slow organ damage, but it can’t fix damage you already have.

Yes

Yes, but you can still get new organ damage

Yes

For this treatment, you do not need a blood donor or a blood-making stem cells donor.It can stop or slow organ damage, but it can’t fix damage you already have.

Yes

With this treatment, you stop taking sickle cell disease medicine (Example: Hydroxyurea)

Yes

With this treatment, you need fewer or no blood transfusions.

Yes

Yes, but you need some during gene therapy.

Yes, but you still may need some.

Doctors do not know all the risks of this treatment, because it is new.

Yes

This treatment might not work for everyone. Your doctor can talk to you about your options.

Yes

This is when your body attacks the donor cells. It means treatment did not work.

Yes, but not common.

This is when the donor cells attack your body. GvHD causes health problems that can last a long time.

Yes

Chemotherapy side effects can be hair loss, diarrhea, and other problems.

Yes

Apheresis has side effects that can be caused by medicine and the collection process.

Yes

VOD is a problem in your liver that can happen after chemotherapy.

Yes

Some parts of the treatment cause pain. Your doctors will try to treat and prevent the pain.

Yes

Some people have a pain crisis when a central line is placed.

Yes

The treatment can cause cancer, because you will get chemotherapy.

Yes, but not common.

Sickle cell disease medicines have side effects. For example, Hydroxyurea causes myelosuppression, nausea, and more.

Yes

Your immune system cannot fight germs for at least 6 months after treatment.

Yes

This treatment can damage egg and sperm cells. Some people cannot have children after chemotherapy.

Yes, but fertility preservation is an option.

Problems from treatment can cause death. This risk is very small and only happens when problems cannot be treated by your doctors.

Yes, but not common.

You might feel sad and alone. When you stay in the hospital for many weeks, it can be hard on your mental health.

Yes

You can have a false positive HIV test. This is when you get an incorrect HIV test result that says you have HIV when, in fact, you do not have HIV in your body.

Yes, if lentivirus used for gene therapy.

You will need medicine to treat problems caused by too much iron in your body.

Yes, but there is medicine to treat it.

Your white blood cells (immune system cells) can attack red blood cells that come from a donor’s blood. It can make it difficult to find blood for transfusions in the future.

Yes

The donor’s red blood cells can breakdown inside your blood. It can cause fever, chills, chest pain, and other problems.

Yes, but not common.

This is when your blood gets thicker and flows more slowly. It can cause a pain crisis.

Yes, but not common.

You can get an infectious disease from blood transfusions. Donor blood is checked for viruses, so this is very rare.

Yes, but very rare.

Compare the different benefits and risks of each treatment.