The transplant costs about $150,000 and is typically covered by insurers. Conventional treatment, which includes blood transfusions and medication, runs roughly $30,000 to $50,000 a year and can only relieve symptoms. All patients in the five-year trial were under 16, and all received marrow transplants from matched sibling donors. Even then, two of the children died after the procedure. Sullivan says there could always be the chance of a fatal complication from a transplant, so prospective patients have to balance ““risk vs. gain.’’ For sufferers of sickle cell, at least they soon may have a choice.
