Under a high magnification of 8000X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed by red blood cells (RBCs) in a blood specimen of a 6 year old male patient with sickle cell anemia, which was accompanied by hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). In these individuals, the presence of the persistent fetal hemoglogin reduces the severity of the consequences of the sickle cell disease, thereby, reducing the degree of cellular deformity, i.e., sickling, seen in the sickled cells. Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems.
