What is alpha plus thalassemia?
Alpha thalassaemia (or α-thalassaemia) is a general term for a group of inherited blood disorders, characterised by a reduced production of the α-globin chains of the haemoglobin molecule, while the β-globin chains are normally produced.
What are the three types of thalassemia?
The three types of beta thalassemia (BAY-tuh thahl-uh-SEE-mee-uh) are:
- Beta thalassemia minor (also called beta thalassemia trait). People with beta thalassemia minor may have mild anemia, but usually don’t need any medical treatment.
- Beta thalassemia intermedia.
- Beta thalassemia major (also called Cooley’s anemia).
What is the difference between α and β thalassemia?
When thalassemia is called “alpha” or “beta,” this refers to the part of hemoglobin that isn’t being made. 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.
Who gets alpha thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia happens when one or more of the genes that control the making of alpha globins is absent or defective. It can cause anemia ranging from mild to severe and is most commonly found in people of African, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and, occasionally, Mediterranean descent.
Is alpha thalassemia fatal?
Thalassemia major can be fatal. People with alpha thalassemia major die in infancy. People with beta thalassemia major require regular blood transfusions. There are other forms of thalassemia which are not as severe.
What are the symptoms of alpha thalassemia?
Some of the more common symptoms of alpha thalassemia include:
- fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
- a pale appearance or a yellow color to the skin (jaundice)
- irritability.
- deformities of the facial bones.
- slow growth.
- a swollen abdomen.
- dark urine.
At what age is thalassemia detected?
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 that they are carriers until they have a child with thalassemia. Blood tests can detect if a person is a carrier or if they have thalassemia.
How many alpha chains are in hemoglobin?
A hemoglobin molecule is made up of four polypeptide chains, two alpha chains of 141 amino acid residues each and two beta chains of 146 amino acid residues each. In the complete molecule, four subunits are closely joined, as in a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, to form a tetramer.
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.
Is alpha thalassemia life threatening?
Alpha-Thalassemia is one of the two forms of the life threatening blood disease known as Thalassemia. Read on to know all about its various types, symptoms and possible treatment options.
Can you have both alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia means you lack alpha hemoglobin. With beta thalassemia, you lack beta hemoglobin. Your doctor may also talk about thalassemia minor and thalassemia major, or Cooley’s anemia. The minor type is less serious than the major one, and your type won’t change. In some people, symptoms show up at birth.
Does alpha thalassemia cause leukemia?
No: Alpha and beta thalassemia have not been reported to cause leukemia, which is cancer of the white blood cells. There is a study of beta thal. There is a study of beta thal. Major &
What is thalassemia trait?
Thalassemia Trait. Thalassemia is a genetic disease. This means that a person can only get thalassemia disease or trait by inheriting the genes for thalassemia from their parents. Genes determine what we look like, such as hair color, and are also responsible for many diseases.