What is the treatment for alpha thalassemia minor?

What is the treatment for alpha thalassemia minor?

Treatments. No treatment is needed for people who are silent carriers (minima) or for alpha thalassemia minor. Although, people with alpha thalassemia minor will have lifelong mild anemia. Those with more moderate to severe cases may require blood transfusions or chelation therapy.

What is HbH hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin H disease (HbH) is a form of alpha thalassemia in which moderately severe anemia develops due to reduced formation of alpha globin chains. In this condition, as in the other forms of thalassemia, there is an imbalance of globin chains needed to form hemoglobin.

Which hemoglobin S can be decreased in alpha thalassemia?

α-Thalassemia results in both a decreased erythrocyte total hemoglobin content and an increased amount of hemoglobin F, which serves not only to decrease the relative percentage of hemoglobin S within the RBCs, but also to maintain a higher oxygen tension, since F is a high oxygen affinity hemoglobin.

How do you treat hemoglobin H?

Folic acid supplements and avoidance of oxidative compounds and medications are recommended. In mild cases, biannual visits are adequate. In more severe cases, more frequent visits are indicated.

Can alpha thalassemia get worse?

Symptoms can worsen with fever. They can also get worse if you are exposed to certain medicines, chemicals, or infectious agents. Blood transfusions are often needed. You have a greater risk of having a child with alpha thalassemia major.

How long do alpha thalassemia patients live?

Without close monitoring and regular treatment, the most severe types can cause serious organ damage and be life threatening. In the past, severe thalassaemia was often fatal by early adulthood. But with current treatments, people are likely to live into their 50s, 60s and beyond.

Is Hb H disease serious?

Hemoglobin H disease. This type causes moderate to severe symptoms. These include lack of energy (fatigue) and exercise intolerance. You may also have an enlarged liver or spleen, yellowish skin, and leg ulcers. You have a greater risk of having a child with the most severe type, alpha thalassemia major.

Does alpha thalassemia cause low iron?

It causes the body to make less hemoglobin than normal. There are 4 different types of alpha thalassemia. 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.

Why is RBC high in thalassemia?

In α-thalassemia, reduced production of α-globin results in tetramers of β-globin known as hemoglobin H (HbH) that can precipitate within mature red blood cells. This in turn results in an anemia from hemolysis and destruction of these red blood cells, as well as some ineffective production of such red blood cells.

Is hemoglobin H disease serious?

Is hemoglobin H disease common?

Hemoglobin H Disease (HbH) (–/-α) HbH is common in Southeast Asia and around the Mediterranean, but occurs rarely in those of African descent. Most patients have Hb 7–10 g/dl with few symptoms and mild hepatosplenomegaly. They may require occasional transfusions during pregnancy or episodes of infection.

Which type of alpha thalassemia is not survivable?

Hydrops fetalis (alpha thalassemia major) is incompatible with life and requires identification in utero and in utero transfusions if the fetus is to survive and be born.

What is the life expectancy of someone with alpha 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.

How long do people with alpha thalassemia live?

Can thalassemia turn into 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.