Transplant outperforms standard care for children with sickle cell

Children with sickle cell anemia, the most common and severe form of sickle cell disease (SCD), who undergo stem cell transplant experience better long-term cognitive function after a decade than those given standard treatments like hydroxyurea or blood transfusions, according to a 10-year follow-up study.

Transplant recipients also generally report fewer hospitalizations, fewer pain crises, and an overall better quality of life.

The study, “Better 10-Year Cerebrovascular Outcome After Transplant Than on Standard-Care in Sickle Cell Anemia: DREPAGREFFE Trial,” was published in the American Journal of Hematology.