Clumps Of Red And White Blood Cells May Contribute To Sickle Cell Disease

It's long been known that patients 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 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.