Hybrid Medical Animation

Here inside this blood vessel, the circulation of red blood cells is obstructed by sickled red blood cells aggregating, sticking together, and leading to an event known as a vaso-occlusive crisis — a central characteristic of sickle cell disease (SCD)

As we zoom out, we are able to see more damage being done in other microvessels.

Sickled red blood cells promote inflammation, obstruct the vasculature, injure the endothelium, and may lead to ischemic damage in vital organs.

SCD is one of the most common inherited diseases worldwide.

This is an opening animation for a series focused on the hallmark of SCD: recurrent painful episodes known as vaso-occlusive crises, and the therapies being explored for reaching better outcomes.