In sickle cell anemia, what is the lifespan of a red blood cell?

In sickle cell anemia, the lifespan of a red blood cell is significantly reduced due to the abnormal hemoglobin (hemoglobin S) present in the cells. Normally, red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 120 days. However, in sickle cell anemia, the sickling of red blood cells leads to their premature destruction, particularly in the spleen and other organs as they get trapped in small blood vessels.

The lifespan of red blood cells in individuals with sickle cell anemia is typically around 10 to 20 days, with many references citing approximately 12 days, which aligns with the chosen answer. This reduced lifespan contributes to the chronic hemolytic anemia seen in sickle cell patients, as the body is unable to produce red blood cells quickly enough to replace those that are destroyed.

The other lifespan options, such as 30 days or 60 days, do not reflect the pathological state of red blood cells in sickle cell anemia, as those durations would be more indicative of either slightly shortened lifespans seen in other conditions or normal red blood cell lifespans. Thus, the choice indicating 12 days accurately encapsulates the impact of the disease on red blood cell survival.