The Relationship Between Sickle Cell Trait and Sickling: Effects of Low Oxygen and High Metabolic Demands

Although sickle cell trait is usually asymptomatic, sickling can still occur when caused by which of the following?

All of the above

Individuals who have sickle cell trait inherit one normal hemoglobin gene and one abnormal hemoglobin gene from their parents. While individuals with sickle cell disease inherit two copies of the abnormal hemoglobin gene, which causes them to produce abnormal hemoglobin and ultimately leads to the development of sickle-shaped red blood cells.

People with sickle cell trait typically do not exhibit any significant symptoms, but under certain conditions, such as during extreme physical exertion or exposure to low oxygen levels (e.g., high altitude, anesthesia during surgery), sickling can occur. The sickling phenomenon can lead to a reduction in oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, pain, and tissue damage, among other complications.

Therefore, sickling can occur when the person with sickle cell trait experiences conditions that reduce the availability of oxygen or that create a reduced oxygen tension in the body, such as in high altitude, intense exercise, deep-sea diving, or during anesthesia. In summary, sickling can occur in individuals with sickle cell trait when the body is exposed to conditions of low oxygen availability and/or high metabolic demands.

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