Abstract
The clinical picture of sickle cell disease is heterogeneous and varies tremendously among patients and in the same patient from time to time. The level of HbF, α-genotype, ß-haplotype, age, sex, and the environment are important factors that modify the clinical picture of sickle cell disease. My paper focuses on the effect of α-globin genotype on the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia, HbSC disease, and sickle ß-thalassemia. The data indicate that the coinheritance of α-thalassemia results in some beneficial effects and in some harmful effects. Thus, there are trade-offs involved in this interaction in which the salutary effects are undermined by harmful ones.