How does sickle cell inheritance affect our future children?

Question

Hi doctor,

I carry scleroderma, but I am not infected by it (sickle cell carrier), and I want to marry a girl who is affected by scleroderma (Sickle's disease).

My question is about the chances of having an infected child and whether we can prevent it in any way. May we take a sample of the marrow of the child after birth and then freeze it? When the child has any of these blood troubles, we can use the marrow we took. It sounds serious, and since it is a child with a maximum of one week of age, it might be dangerous, so please tell me how I can deal with this in a good way.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

I believe there might be some confusion in your question regarding the conditions mentioned. Scleroderma is not the same as sickle cell disease. Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the skin and connective tissues, while sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder affecting red blood cells.

If you are a carrier for sickle cell trait (not infected), and you wish to marry someone with sickle cell disease, there is a possibility of having children with sickle cell disease.

The risk depends on the specific genetic makeup of both you and your partner. If both parents are carriers of sickle cell trait, there is a 25 percent chance with each pregnancy of having a child with sickle cell disease. It is essential to consult with a genetic counselor or a healthcare professional with expertise in genetic disorders to get personalized information about the risks and options available to you. They can provide detailed information about the specific probabilities in your situation and discuss potential preventive measures or reproductive options, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or prenatal testing.

Regarding your suggestion of taking a sample of the newborn's marrow and freezing it for future use, it is important to note that it is unlikely that such a procedure would be performed for the purpose you mentioned.

Marrow transplantation is typically used as a treatment for certain conditions and is not routinely done for preventive measures. Again, it is crucial to consult with a medical professional or genetic counselor who can provide accurate and personalized information based on your specific circumstances. They will be able to guide you on the best course of action and address any concerns you may have.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.