Sickle cell anaemia. Artwork of red blood cells in sickle cell anaemia (drepanocytosis). The sickle- shaped red blood cells (some seen at upper left) contrast with normal red blood cells (rounded, one at lower centre). Also seen are platelets (small, blue) and two white blood cell types (granulocyte, centre right; lymphocyte, top centre). Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disease that largely affects black people, in which the red blood cells contain abnormal haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment. Deoxygenated haemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a fragile sickle shape, and they are easily destroyed, which causes the lack of red blood cells that leads to symptoms of anaemia.