Thalassemias, (alpha, beta, and their subdivisions) are genetic disorders, affecting the number and the oxygen/carbon dioxide carrying ability of the erythrocytes. The later is due to defective heamoglobin structure.
The disease's severity depends on the severity of the defect, and the treatment likewise. For example, defect in Alpha thalassemia silent is very mild, therefore treatment might not even be necessary.
Treatments for the more severe types include blood transfusion, iron chelation, vitamin and folic acid supplementation, surgical removal of the spleen (in Alpha thalassemia major).
Researches into new treatments include donor blood and marrow stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, and activation of fetal haemoglobin.
No. A minor form of the blood disorder thalassemia is when you inherited just one beta thalassemia gene, along with a normal beta-chain gene. This manifests as mild anaemia with a slight lowering of the hemoglobin level in the blood. No treatment is require. By contrast, a thalassemia major, also known as Cooley's Disease, is when one is born with two genes for beta thalassemia and no normal beta-chain gene. This is a serious disorder.
Alpha thalassemia silent carrierAlpha thalassemia minor, also called alpha thalassemia traitHemoglobin H diseaseAlpha thalassemia major, also called hydrops fetalisBeta thalassemia minor, also called beta thalassemia traitBeta thalassemia intermediaBeta thalassemia major, also called Cooley's anemia or beta-zero (ß0) thalassemiaBeta-plus (ß+) thalassemiaMediterranean anemia
Beta thalassemia variant
have seen one of my friends sister had kid and all normal no complications...not thalassemia either.........beta and alpha i think there is 25% normal chance
If you have beta thalassemia trait and your partner has sickle cell trait there is a 25% chance of your child having sickle beta thalassemia.
Yes, A "carrier" of alpha thalassemia and of beta thalassemia can marry, but not to someone with any hemoglobinopathy. Prof. Kornfeld Pal
Beta-thalassemia is typically caused by mutations in the HBB gene located on chromosome 11. Common mutations include point mutations, deletions, or insertions in the HBB gene, leading to reduced or absent production of beta-globin chains in hemoglobin. These mutations disrupt the normal structure and function of hemoglobin, resulting in anemia and other symptoms associated with beta-thalassemia.
5 to 10 years
beta thalassemia
One can find more information about Beta Thalassema on a number of websites. Wikipedia, Genetics home reference and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are some online pages available for someone seeking information about Beta Thalassemia.
Renal function in pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia major.
People whose hemoglobin does not produce enough beta protein have beta thalassemia. It is found in people of Mediterranean descent, such as Italians and Greeks, and is also found in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Africa, Southeast Asia and southern China.There are three types of beta thalassemia that also range from mild to severe in their effect on the body.Thalassemia Minor or Thalassemia Trait. In this condition, the lack of beta protein is not great enough to cause problems in the normal functioning of the hemoglobin. A person with this condition simply carries the genetic trait for thalassemia and will usually experience no health problems other than a possible mild anemia. As in mild alpha thalassemia, physicians often mistake the small red blood cells of the person with beta thalassemia minor as a sign of iron-deficiency anemia and incorrectly prescribe iron supplements.Thalassemia Intermedia. In this condition the lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin is great enough to cause a moderately severe anemia and significant health problems, including bone deformities and enlargement of the spleen. However, there is a wide range in the clinical severity of this condition, and the borderline between thalassemia intermedia and the most severe form, thalassemia major, can be confusing. The deciding factor seems to be the amount of blood transfusions required by the patient. The more dependent the patient is on blood transfusions, the more likely he or she is to be classified as thalassemia major. Generally speaking, patients with thalassemia intermedia need blood transfusions to improve their quality of life, but not in order to survive.Thalassemia Major or Cooley's Anemia. This is the most severe form of beta thalassemia in which the complete lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin causes a life-threatening anemia that requires regular blood transfusions and extensive ongoing medical care. These extensive, lifelong blood transfusions lead to iron-overload which must be treated with chelation therapy to prevent early death from organ failure.From Jagadish