Which of the following is FALSE regarding sickle cell disease?

The statement about the average red cell lifespan being 60 days is incorrect. In sickle cell disease, the average lifespan of red blood cells is typically much shorter than that of normal red blood cells, which usually live around 120 days. In sickle cell disease, the sickle-shaped red blood cells can become rigid and prone to hemolysis, leading to their destruction within about 10 to 20 days. This shortened lifespan contributes to the anemia seen in patients with sickle cell disease, as their bodies cannot produce red blood cells quickly enough to replace the ones that are dying.

The other statements accurately describe aspects of sickle cell disease. Red blood cells indeed can become permanently distorted into the sickle shape, especially under conditions of low oxygen. Pain crises, also known as vaso-occlusive crises, can occur when sickled cells block the flow of blood through small vessels, causing intense pain. Lastly, sickle cell disease is an inherited form of anemia that is transmitted in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that a child must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to express the disease.