This session will focus on recent advances in our understanding of sickle cell disease as an inflammatory disorder. The inflammatory nature of vaso-occlusive episodes involving the interactions of leukocytes with the vascular endothelium and sickle cells will be reviewed. New clinical trials focused on ameliorating the inflammatory aspect of sickle cell disease by using agents that inhibit the interaction of blood cells with the vascular endothelium will be discussed. Finally, recent data on alterations in T and B cell immune responses, their impact on alloimmunization frequency, and how such alterations may be related to underlying inflammation in patients with sickle cell disease will be presented.