People who are genetic carriers for sickle cell disease face an increased risk of developing blood clots, according to a major new US study. But crucially, the risk is found among all sickle cell trait carriers, not just those of African heritage, according to the findings reported in Blood Advances.
The researchers say the findings will remove a racialised bias that has caused “unintended harm” to those with the trait.
The research involved data from more than four million people. It concluded that those with the sickle cell trait have a 1.45 times increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism – and this was found across all genetic ancestries.
The research also found that sickle cell trait carriers face a greater risk of clots occurring in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) than in the legs (deep vein thrombosis).
Researcher Dr Rakhi Naik, clinical director for the division of haematology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, said: “This study provides important insights about patterns of venous blood clots and suggests a unique mechanism of blood clotting in people with sickle cell trait. Knowing the risks of blood clots in people with sickle cell trait is important for situations such as surgeries or hospitalisations, which add to the risk of developing serious blood clots.”
Fellow researcher Dr Vence Bonham, acting deputy director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute, said: “I hope this study informs health professionals, particularly haematologists, that when thinking about risks related to sickle cell trait, they need to be looking at all populations, not just one group. Sickle cell trait is understudied, and this is an area of opportunity for more research, particularly for other studies with large sample sizes.”
Source:
Lin KH, Granka JM, Shastri AJ, Bonham VL, Naik RP. (2024) “Ancestry-Independent Comparative Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait vs. Factor V Leiden.” Blood Advances, 12 September 2024, doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024014252.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2024014252
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