Clumps of Red and White Blood Cells May Contribute to Sickle Cell Disease
University of North Carolina Health Care SystemPatients with sickle cell disease have malformed, "sickle-shaped" red blood cells "“ which are normally disc-shaped "“ that can cause sudden painful episodes when they block small blood vessels. Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have shown that blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that may contribute to the blockages.