Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease and Noncancerous Blood Disorders Care

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

Our Children’s Medical Center is home to the Pediatric Sickle Cell program, the only program of its kind in Central Massachusetts. Our close-knit team includes board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologists, pediatric nurses, social workers and child life specialists. We give your child a level of care and attention that is hard to find at larger institutions.

As a member of the New England Pediatric Sickle Cell Consortium, we receive the latest sickle cell updates from institutions throughout the region. This collaboration means we stay current on new research, treatments and support services available for children with sickle cell disease. 

Our Services for Sickle Cell Disease in Children

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong, complex medical condition. Careful monitoring and management starting in infancy can help prevent complications and keep your child as healthy as possible. Our clinic provides the coordinated services you need, close to where you live and work. 

We offer: 

• Evidence-based treatments: We provide a range of therapies to manage pain and anemia, including medication, supplements and blood transfusions.
• Medication management: Infants and children with sickle cell disease need daily antibiotics or hydroxyurea (medication that prevents sickle cells from forming in the blood). Our nurses and our pharmacist help parents obtain their children’s medications and show parents how to give the medications.
• Outpatient monitoring: Our Pediatric Sickle Cell program makes it easy for your child to get blood work and checkups every few months. These tests check blood cell counts and help us spot problems before they become serious.
• Specialty care: Sickle cell disease affects many parts of your body. We connect you to pediatric nephrologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists and other specialists. All of your child’s providers work together to deliver seamless care.
• Emergency services: Severe sickle cell complications can include pain crises, stroke and infection. If your child is ill, we always have a pediatric hematology-oncology doctor on call and our pediatric emergency room is available 24/7 to address critical situations. 

Other Pediatric Blood Disorders We Treat

Our breadth of experience allows us to treat every type of blood and bleeding disorder in children, including rare diseases not routinely treated at other centers. We provide education, treatments and ongoing support to help families manage these complex conditions from birth through young adulthood. 

We care for: 

• Anemia, including thalassemia
• Bone marrow disorders, including myelodysplastic syndrome
• Hemophilia
• Platelet disorders
• Red and white blood cell disorders
• Thrombosis (blood clots)
• Von Willebrand disease (VWD)

We also care for cancerous (malignant) blood disorders in children such as leukemia and lymphoma. Learn about our expertise in pediatric cancer.