Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509180095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CINCINNATI LENGTH: Short
The genetic blood disorder affects about one in 400 blacks in America. It can also affect people of Mediterranean descent.
Researchers, who published their findings in last week's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, say exercising the lungs with the breathing device is key.
``We hope this will become a standard of care for [sickle cell] patients who experience acute chest pain,'' said Dr. Donald Rucknagel, a researcher at Children's Hospital Medical Center here. ``If we can prevent these episodes, it should expand life span. But we can't tell you how much.''
Average life expectancy among victims is 42 years for men and 48 years for women.
Many patients develop lung infections because the pain from the disease prevents them from breathing deeply, said Dr. Paul Bellet, lead author of the study.
Researchers learned that chest and back pain is caused when deformed, sickle-shaped blood cells clog the flow of blood to the ribs, causing the bone to deteriorate.
The treatment is simple. Patients use an incentive spirometer, a tube with a pingpong ball inside, by taking deep breaths to suck the pingpong ball to a mark on the cylinder.
by CNB