Multiscale Modeling of Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder exhibiting heterogeneous cell morphology, decreased deformability, and abnormal adhesion. The primary pathogenic event of the disease is the intracellular nucleation and polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin followed by sickling of red blood cells that result in vaso-occlusive crises and other pathophysiological aspects of the disease. In this chapter, we present the morphological, rheological, and adhesive properties of sickle cells and their relevance to the vaso-occlusion under physiological conditions.