Sickle-Cell Anemia
In sickle-cell anemia, RBC's take on a sickle-shaped appearance and can become lodged in small blood vessels. This reduces the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the body. Sickle-cell is an autosomal recessive trait. It is caused by a point mutation in a person's DNA that changes the amino acid sequence of the hemoglobin protein. It is most common in people of African descent.
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Jaundice
When RBC's are broken down, they turn into an orange-yellow pigment called bilirubin. When the liver cannot absorb bilirubin because the bile ducts are blocked or an infant's liver is not yet functioning properly, bilirubin will diffuse to the surrounding tissues and cause a yellowing of the eyes and skin.
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