Leading the way in sickle cell care

We provide in-center red blood cell exchange, also known as therapeutic erythrocytapheresis, and transfusion therapy. Erythrocytapheresis is a non-surgical therapy that removes and replaces a patient’s red blood cells. A patient’s blood is removed through a needle or catheter and circulated through a machine that separated red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma. The red cells responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body are discarded and replaced with donated red blood cells. The donor red blood cells circulate back to the patient with the other blood components (white cells, platelets, and plasma) through a return needle. Transfusion therapy involves regularly administering red blood cells to patients.

Hydroxyurea is a medicine that is used to reduce the frequency of pain and the need for blood transfusions in sickle cell patients. Hydroxyurea works by increasing the level of a special type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin F (HbF), which is more effective in binding and carrying oxygen around the body, reducing anemia symptoms.

We help to manage patient pain using a variety of non-narcotic prescriptions and other therapies.

L-glutamine (ENDARI), Crizanlizumab (ADAKVEO), and Voxelotor (OXBRYTA) are both recently FDA approved therapies for sickle cell disease and are available for consideration for treatment for sickle cell patients at the center.

We use a multi-disciplinary approach to treat these slow-healing wounds.