Beta Thalassemia Types

Last Updated on September 24, 2022 by amin

What does a CBC look like with thalassemia?

With beta thalassemia, a CBC is done to measure the amount of hemoglobin and the number and the size and shape of red blood cells, which are fewer in number and smaller in size than in normal individuals. Red blood cells may also be pale in color (hypochromic) and of varying shapes.

What is beta plus thalassemia?

Sickle beta plus thalassemia (HbS ?+thal) is a mild form of sickle cell disease. Many babies with HbS ?+thal are born healthy and do not show symptoms until later in childhood. Some problems can include low red blood cell count, pain, and risk of infection.

Can you donate blood with beta thalassemia?

You must not donate blood if you have had babesiosis. You will be permanently deferred. If you have G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency) or Thalassemia (minor), you can donate blood if you meet the haemoglobin requirement.

Does thalassemia minor affect periods?

Puberty may be delayed or progress abnormally in teenagers with thalassemia, due to iron build up impairing the function of the pituitary gland. This may lead to complications such as: Absence of menstruation, known as amenorrhea.

Does thalassemia skip a generation?

Thalassemias are inherited conditions they’re carried in the genes and passed on from parents to children. People who are carriers of a thalassemia gene show no thalassemia symptoms and might not know they’re carriers. If both parents are carriers, they can pass the disease to their kids.

What blood type is thalassemia?

Thalassemia is the name of a group of inherited blood disorders. There are two main types of thalassemia: alpha and beta, in reference to the alpha and beta proteins that form hemoglobin in the blood.

Why thalassemia is Hypochromic?

Thalassemias are a common cause of hypochromic microcytic anemia which arises from the reduced or absent synthesis of the globin chain of hemoglobin. Thalassemias are a quantitative defect of hemoglobin synthesis.

What are the three types of thalassemia?

When you have beta thalassemia, your body doesn’t make enough protein in red blood cells called hemoglobin. That makes it hard for oxygen to get to all of your body’s cells. There are three main types of the disease: beta thalassemia major, intermedia, and minor.

What are the 4 types of thalassemia?

Alpha thalassemia occurs when some or all of the 4 genes that make hemoglobin (the alpha-globin genes) are missing or damaged.
…
There are 4 types of alpha thalassemia:

• Alpha thalassemia silent carrier. …
• Alpha thalassemia carrier. …
• Hemoglobin H disease. …
• Alpha thalassemia major.

Why is Rdw normal in thalassemia?

In b and a thalassemia traits, almost all red cells are microcytic because deficient synthesis of the globin chain resulting from thalassemia mutations expresses itself in all of the red cell precursors. Consequently, RDW values are relatively constant.

What is the life expectancy of someone with thalassemia?

Persons with the thalassemia trait have a normal life expectancy. Persons with beta thalassemia major often die from cardiac complications of iron overload by 30 years of age.

Beta Thalassemia Types

Beta thalassemia has three main forms minor, intermedia and major, which indicate the severity of the disease. Individuals with beta thalassemia minor usually do not have any symptoms (asymptomatic) and individuals often are unaware that they have the condition. Some individuals do experience a very mild anemia.

Can thalassemia patients marry?

Aim: With good care, patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDTM) can reach older ages, marry and reproduce.

What is ? thalassemia trait?

People with beta thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin. People with beta thalassemia trait have both normal hemoglobin A and the abnormal beta thalassemia (?) hemoglobin in their red blood cells. Beta thalassemia is common in people of African, Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern descent.

What are the symptoms of beta thalassemia minor?

Possible symptoms of beta thalassemia minor include anemia, tiredness, weakness, pale skin, poor appetite, repeat infections, abdominal swelling, slow growth and more. These symptoms will be less severe than beta thalassemia major.

What is mild Hypochromic?

Hypochromic means that the red blood cells have less hemoglobin than normal. Low levels of hemoglobin in your red blood cells leads to appear paler in color. In microcytic hypochromic anemia, your body has low levels of red blood cells that are both smaller and paler than normal.

Can thalassemia trait turn into major?

Because the thalassemia trait is a genetic trait and not a health condition, it cannot “become worse” or change into one of the more serious forms of thalassemia that may require medical treatment.

What is worst form of thalassemia?

Thalassemia major is the most severe form of beta thalassemia. It develops when beta globin genes are missing. The symptoms of thalassemia major generally appear before a child’s second birthday. The severe anemia related to this condition can be life-threatening.

What are the two types of beta thalassemia?

Beta thalassemia is classified into two types depending on the severity of symptoms: thalassemia major (also known as Cooley’s anemia) and thalassemia intermedia. Of the two types, thalassemia major is more severe.

Can you have alpha and beta thalassemia?

Results: Eighty-three individuals from 59 families were identified to be double heterozygous for alpha- and beta-thalassaemia only upon molecular analyses. Among 40 married individuals, 1 was at 25% risk for having beta-thalassaemia major children and 6 for having Bart’s hydrops pregnancies.

Is thalassemia minor curable?

Bone marrow transplant and gene therapy are other options for treatment. Myth 5.: Thalassemia cannot be cured.

What is the difference between beta thalassemia major and minor?

Someone who inherits a beta thalassemia mutation from 1 parent has beta thalassemia trait (beta thalassemia minor). Someone who inherits a beta thalassemia mutation from each parent has beta thalassemia intermedia or beta thalassemia major (Cooley’s anemia).

At what age is thalassemia detected?

Diagnosis. Most children with moderate to severe thalassemia receive a diagnosis by the time they are 2 years old. People with no symptoms may not realize they are carriers until they have a child with thalassemia.

Is banana good for thalassemia?

Banana are a good source of folic acid. They will help build RBC.

Which is more severe alpha or beta thalassemia?

If either the alpha or beta part is not made, there aren’t enough building blocks to make normal amounts of hemoglobin. Low alpha is called alpha thalassemia. Low beta is called beta thalassemia. When the words trait, minor, intermedia, or major are used, these words describe how severe the thalassemia is.

Is beta thalassemia a disability?

Only those with fairly low income and assets are eligible for SSI, even if they meet the medical eligibility criteria. With regard to medical eligibility, the SSA considers beta thalassemia an inherently disabling disease.

How do I know I have beta thalassemia?

Thalassemia signs and symptoms can include:

• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Pale or yellowish skin.
• Facial bone deformities.
• Slow growth.
• Abdominal swelling.
• Dark urine.

Is b12 high in thalassemia?

The patient’s hemoglobin electrophoresis was diagnostic for thalassemia trait. Her vitamin B₁₂ level was low with high methylmalonic acid and homocysteine.
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Table 1.

Lab investigation	Result	Normal range
Ferritin	66.56 ng/mL	4.6204 ng/mL
Serum iron	50 ?mol/L	930 ?mol/L
Vitamin B	158 pg/mL	187883 pg/mL
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Sep 4, 2018

How is the family of a person with thalassemia affected?

Both types of thalassemia are inherited in the same manner. The disease is passed to children by parents who carry the mutated thalassemia gene. A child who inherits one mutated gene is a carrier, which is sometimes called “thalassemia trait.” Most carriers lead completely normal, healthy lives.

Can thalassemia turn into leukemia?

The coexistence of thalassemia with cancers such as Hodgkin disease, lymphoma, seminoma, and leukemia has been reported [3,4,5,6,7]. This coexistence could be explained by either genetic or environmental interactions, or it might be thought of as just a coincidence.

Why is RBC count high in thalassemia?

In beta-thalassemia major, anemia is severe, often with hemoglobin ? 6 g/dL (? 60 g/L). Red blood cell count is elevated relative to hemoglobin because the cells are very microcytic.

What does high Hemoglobin A2 mean?

Hemoglobin A2 may be increased in beta thalassemia or in people who are heterozygous for the beta thalassemia gene. HbA2 exists in small amounts in all adult humans (1.5-3.1% of all hemoglobin molecules) and is approximately normal in people with sickle-cell disease.

Can two thalassemia minor get married?

If one is a Thalassaemia Minor one must get the spouse/future spouse also tested. If both partners in a marriage are Thalassaemia Minor, there is a 25% chance in every pregnancy that their child will be a Thalassaemia Major.

What foods are good for beta thalassemia?

Nutritional deficiencies are common in 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.

How is beta thalassemia minor treated?

Treatment may include:

1. Regular blood transfusions.
2. Medicines to reduce extra iron from your body (called iron chelation therapy)
3. Surgery to remove the spleen, if needed.
4. Daily folic acid.
5. Surgery to remove the gallbladder.
6. Regular checks of heart and liver function.
7. Genetic tests.
8. Bone marrow transplant.

Which is worse sickle cell or thalassemia?

Sickle beta zero thalassemia (no normal hemoglobin) is usually associated with a worse prognosis and more severe disease course than sickle beta plus thalassmia (a reduced amount of normal hemoglobin).

Is thalassemia the same as sickle cell?

While beta thalassemia is caused by a defect in the beta-globin gene, controlling the production of the beta-globin chains of hemoglobin, sickle cell disease is caused by a defect in hemoglobin itself with the presence of abnormal hemoglobin S.

What is the normal range of thalassemia?

Hematologic Diagnosis Thalassemia intermedia is characterized by Hb level between 7 and 10 g/dl, MCV between 50 and 80 fl and MCH between 16 and 24 pg. Thalassemia minor is characterized by reduced MCV and MCH, with increased Hb A² level [29].

How can I increase my hemoglobin thalassemia?

Many times people with thalassemia are prescribed a supplemental B vitamin, known as folic acid, to help treat anemia. Folic acid can help red blood cells develop. Treatment with folic acid is usually done in addition to other therapies.

How are thalassemia types different?

There are two main types of thalassemia:

1. Alpha thalassemia occurs when a gene or genes related to the alpha globin protein are missing or changed (mutated).
2. Beta thalassemia occurs when similar gene defects affect production of the beta globin protein.

Why is beta thalassemia more common?

The beta thalassemia syndromes are much more diverse than the alpha thalassemia syndromes due to the diversity of the mutations that produce the defects in the beta globin gene.