Red Blood Cell Adhesion Index in a Patient with Sickle Cell Disease Prior and Post Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited blood disorders and affects over 100,000 individuals in US only. SCD is caused by a single mutation in the β-globin gene that leads to the production of sickle hemoglobin (HbS). Red blood cells (RBCs) from patients with SCD are sticky, rigid, and prone to hemolysis, resulting in a wide range of acute and chronic complications, such as vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome, cerebrovascular disease, and multi-organ damage. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a curative therapy for SCD, that results in stabilization of organ function and gradual amelioration of cerebrovascular and pulmonary complications, as well vaso-occlusive crises. We report a clinically applicable microfluidic device (SCD Biochip) that enables quantitative evaluation of RBC adhesion to endothelium-associated protein-immobilized microchannels before and after HSCT.