Alpha thalassemia
Why is beta thalassemia more severe?
In people with beta thalassemia, low levels of hemoglobin lead to a lack of oxygen in many parts of the body. Affected individuals also have a shortage of red blood cells (anemia ), which can cause pale skin, weakness, fatigue, and more serious complications.
Is alpha thalassemia life threatening?
Missing three alpha thalassemia genes (Hemoglobin H disease): (α-/–), this disease causes health problems and requires treatment by a physician. Missing four genes (Hydrops fetalis): (–/–), this is a life threatening disease .
Which thalassemia is most common?
Beta thalassemia is a fairly common blood disorder worldwide. Thousands of infants with beta thalassemia are born each year. Beta thalassemia occurs most frequently in people from Mediterranean countries, North Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Is beta thalassemia painful?
Pain is a subjective symptom whose prevalence can be grossly underestimated. The high proportion of adults with thalassemia who experience chronic pain is evident from recent surveys. However, pain has not received enough attention in the overall management of thalassemia.
How long do alpha thalassemia patients live?
It’s made up of alpha globin and beta globin. The body contains more red blood cells than any other type of cell, and each has a life span of about 4 months .
Can alpha thalassemia be cured?
This condition causes mild to severe anemia, based on the type of alpha thalassemia that is inherited. People who have this condition can pass the disease on to their children. There is no cure . Treatment can reduce symptoms.
Is thalassemia a serious disease?
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin and red blood cells. A person with thalassemia will have too few red blood cells and too little hemoglobin, and the red blood cells may be too small. The impact can range from mild to severe and life-threatening .
Does thalassemia weaken immune system?
Because it is working so hard on this job, it can’t work as hard to filter blood or monitor for and fight infections. Because of this, people with thalassemia are said to be “immunocompromised ,” which means that some of the body’s defenses against infection aren’t working.
Is there a cure for beta thalassemia?
Blood transfusions and chelation do not cure beta thalassemia . A stem cell transplant can cure it, but it is a serious procedure with many risks and won’t benefit everyone with the condition. Doctors and scientist are working on developing gene therapies and other treatments to help people with beta thalassemia.
Can thalassemia lead to leukemia?
Occurrence of leukemia in thalassemia major is a rare presentation. Here we report two cases of thalassemic patients, developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genetic analysis revealed that, female and male patients were homozygous for IVSI-6 and IVSI-5, respectively.
Is milk good for thalassemia?
Calcium. Many factors in thalassaemia promote calcium depletion. A diet containing adequate calcium (e.g. milk, cheese, dairy products and kale) is always recommended.
How is beta thalassemia inherited?
Beta thalassemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern . Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits an abnormal gene from each parent.
Can you live a normal life with alpha thalassemia?
What are the survival rates for alpha thalassemia? Treatment for hemoglobin H has improved, and people with a moderate or severe form of the disorder are living longer with better quality of life . However, health problems caused by alpha thalassemia and its treatment are common and can be serious.
What should I eat if I have alpha thalassemia?
It is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet . Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables & Vitamin C-rich foods is the best option for thalassemic patients.
Is alpha thalassemia a disability?
Alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects many parts of the body. This condition occurs almost exclusively in males. Males with alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome have intellectual disability and delayed development.
