{
  "id": 10208432,
  "title": "Only 3% of US sickle cell patients receive red blood cell exchange for disease, researchers find",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/only-3-of-us-sickle-cell-patients-receive-red-blood-cell-exchange-for",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-27T12:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/27/sickle-cell-patients-red-blood-cell-exchange"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study reveals that a mere 3% of sickle cell patients in the United States receive red blood cell exchange, a highly effective treatment despite the availability of the technology in most hospitals. This procedure, which replaces damaged red blood cells with donor cells while mixing plasma, platelets, and white blood cells, remains inaccessible to the vast majority of patients. The research, a nationwide survey of 100 healthcare providers managing sickle cell patients, found that barriers such as coordinating departments, limited donor blood, and unfamiliarity with the procedure hinder its implementation. Only 5% of surveyed providers had no obstacles to delivering this therapy. A significant concern among patients is whether red blood cell exchange is covered by their insurance. Sickle cell disease, primarily affecting people of color, is characterized by irregular, crescent-shaped red blood cells that block blood vessels. Dr. Aaron Haubner, lead author of the study, stresses the need for comprehensive sickle cell disease centers to provide coordinated care. Dr. Edward Donnell Ivy, chief medical officer at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, highlights the importance of patients asking about treatments and the gap in providers' knowledge about managing sickle cell disease. Geographic factors also play a role, as rural areas with predominantly African American populations often lack access to necessary equipment and expertise.",
  "summary": "Various factors block sufferers of disease from receiving treatment that is effective and has widespread availability Sickle cell patients are missing out on an effective treatment despite widespread US hospital access to the technology, new research has found. That treatment is called a red blood cell exchange, a procedure that discards a patient’s damaged red blood cells while simultaneously…",
  "key_points": [
    "Only 3% of US sickle cell patients receive red blood cell exchange treatment.",
    "Barriers include coordinating departments, donor blood scarcity, and unfamiliarity.",
    "Insurance coverage and provider knowledge gaps are major concerns."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}