Sickle Cell Care in Brooklyn

Sickle cell disease care for all phases of life

Sickle cell disease experts at Children's Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital bring decades of leadership and expertise to caring for children with sickle cell disease. Our comprehensive program offers the latest medical therapies, 24/7 support for pain management, referrals for stem cell transplantation (bone marrow transplant), and access to innovative treatments like gene therapy.

Since sickle cell disease can affect the entire body, patients in our program also have access to pediatric specialists at the Children's Hospital of New York with experience treating sickle cell-related complications. Our team also includes social workers and child life specialists who help patients and their families navigate the challenges of living with sickle cell disease. For adolescents preparing to transition to adult care, we offer a dedicated program that ensures continuity and equips them with the tools to thrive as they move into adulthood.

Our approach to care

We begin treating sickle cell disease as early as possible to prevent pain and complications and reduce the need for more hospital admissions. Our modern and comfortable infusion center is open on Saturdays so that patients do not need to miss school or work to receive treatment.

Sickle cell treatments

Our doctors offer hydroxyurea treatment for patients with sickle cell disease as young as 9 months of age, ideally before their first sickle cell episode occurs. Blood transfusions with healthy, non-sickled blood cells can help relieve symptoms and lower the risk of stroke in high-risk patients. We also offer newer sickle cell treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including:

Voxelotor (Oxbryta®): We use this oral medication to improve anemia in patients ages 4 and older.
Crizanlizumab (Adakveo®): This medication can reduce pain episodes. It is given intravenously (by vein) in our infusion center to patients age 16 and older.
L-glutamine (Endari®) - This medication is used to reduce pain due to sickle cell disease in children 5 years of age and older. It is a powder that is mixed with food or a beverage.

Stem cell transplantation to cure sickle cell disease

A bone marrow transplant, which involves replacing unhealthy blood-forming "stem" cells with healthy cells from a matched donor, can cure sickle cell disease. We educate and counsel our patients about stem cell transplantation and offer tests to start the search for a donor. Patients who match with a donor receive all pre- and post-transplant care in Brooklyn, and undergo the transplant procedure at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley, one of the largest programs in the region.

Stroke prevention

Our team follows the STOP criteria (Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Disease) to screen pediatric patients periodically. We use transcranial Doppler ultrasound (a scan of the head using sound waves) to assess the risk of stroke, and then tailor medical therapies to reduce that risk. Chronic transfusion therapy is available on an outpatient basis.

Adolescent patients in Brooklyn

Through our alliance with NewYork-Presbyterian’s Dalio Center for Health Justice, adolescent patients receive support from a dedicated transition navigator who prepares them for adult sickle cell care. A transition navigator works closely with each patient to build self-advocacy skills, manage appointments, and access essential hospital and community resources. Our pediatric and adult blood disorder specialists host joint events so patients can meet their future care teams and feel supported every step of the way.

Specialized services for sickle cell disease

NewYork-Presbyterian's state-of-the-art facilities in Brooklyn are designed to support the unique needs of sickle cell patients through every phase of care. We are home to: