Sickle Cell, Transplant Expertise Opens New Doors for Patients
Monday, September 15, 2025
For individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD), regular blood transfusions are often essential for managing their condition. However, repeated transfusions over time can result in iron overload. This excess iron, combined with the effects of the underlying disease, can harm the liver and kidneys, making organ health a significant concern.
Studies show that many people with SCD have increased risk of developing chronic liver or kidney disease, and for some, getting an organ transplant is a possible treatment option for these sickle cell-related complications.
“These transplants are as safe and effective for sickle cell patients as they are for anyone else,” said Dr. Franklin Njoku, a physician in the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at UI Health. https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/sickle-cell-center “The key is having a team of experts who understand SCD, who can identify the right patients, and who are willing to challenge outdated assumptions.”
Breaking Down Barriers
Traditionally, transplant teams require patients to address the underlying cause of organ failure before moving forward. For example, individuals with alcohol-related liver disease must stop drinking before being considered for transplant.
This has historically left patients in a frustrating cycle of being told they must “cure” their SCD before receiving a solid organ transplant — while still being unable to pursue curative treatments without healthy organs.
“We recognized that this kind of reasoning created an impossible barrier,” Dr. Njoku explains. “At UI Health, we decided to change that. By working closely with our UI Health Transplant team, we’ve created a pathway for sickle cell patients to access the lifesaving transplants they need.” https://hospital.uillinois.edu/transplant
Treatment Options at UI Health
Because of UI Health’s expertise in both transplantation and SCD treatment, our teams are uniquely positioned as leaders in liver and kidney transplantation for SCD patients, and they have experience working collaboratively to ensure patients still have access to this life-saving care.
And after receiving a new organ, many patients are healthy enough to pursue a wider variety of SCD treatment options, including curative therapies available at UI Health like bone marrow transplants. https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/sickle-cell-center
“My hope is that one day, liver and kidney transplants for sickle cell patients become routine across the country,” Dr. Njoku said. “At UI Health, we’re proving that it’s possible — and we’re committed to making this care accessible to the patients who need it most.”
“We believe every patient deserves the chance at long-term health,” he added. “We’re working every day to make that a reality for people living with sickle cell disease.”
Visit the Sickle Cell Program at UI Health to learn more about sickle cell disease and treatment options. https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/sickle-cell-center
