Clinical Trend of the Week (March 10-16): Sickle Cell Disease
A bipartisan bill in the US Senate and a new application of technology helped drive traffic for this week's top search term. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act. Because the condition has an increased incidence among black Americans, Booker pointed to the disparity in health services available to that community as a primary reason for the legislation. If approved, the bill would provide funding for the collection of data on demographics and prevalence, educational initiatives, and strategies for prevention and treatment. That treatment may soon be reality, as sickle cell disease may be the first human application for CRISPR, a tool that allows for gene editing. CRISPR may eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants by targeting the patient's own stem cells. Clinical trials may begin within the next few years, according to some experts. From congressional initiatives to applications of advanced technology, sickle cell disease had many reasons for an increase in searches.
For more information on sickle cell disease, read here.
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Cite this: Ryan Syrek. Trending Clinical Topics for March 2018 - Medscape - Mar 30, 2018.
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