Are people with sickle cell disease always anaemic?
No. People with SS disease are usually anaemic with haemoglobin levels between 6-9 g (compared with normal values of 12-15 gms). In SC disease, the haemoglobin level varies from 8-15 g and so may be quite normal. The degree of anaemia in sickle cell disease is not usually dangerous and rarely causes problems. It is not helped by iron medicines which should not be taken.
