Why is there thalassemia in the Mediterranean?
The name thalassemia was coined by the Nobel Prize winning pathologist George Whipple and the professor of pediatrics Wm Bradford at U. of Rochester because thalassa in Greek means the sea (like the Mediterranean Sea) + -emia means in the blood so thalassemia means sea in the blood. Thalassemia is not just one disease.
How do you test for Talasemia?
Several laboratory tests may be used to help detect and diagnose thalassemia:
- Complete blood count (CBC). The CBC is an evaluation of the cells in the blood.
- Blood smear (also called peripheral smear and manual differential).
- Iron studies.
- Hemoglobinopathy (Hb) evaluation (hemoglobin electrophoresis).
What causes thalassemia major?
Thalassemia is caused by mutations in the DNA of cells that make hemoglobin — the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. The mutations associated with thalassemia are passed from parents to children.
What is Talesemia?
Thalassemia is an inherited (i.e., passed from parents to children through genes) blood disorder caused when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein called hemoglobin, an important part of red blood cells.
Can thalassemia skip a generation?
Thalassemia is an inherited condition. The genes received from one’s parents before birth determine whether a person will have thalassemia. Thalassemia cannot be caught or passed on to another person.
Is Mediterranean anemia serious?
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.
Is Rdw high in thalassemia?
Consequently, RDW tends to be higher in iron deficiency anemia than in thalassemia minor(5), although the role of RDW as an auxiliary parameter in the differentiation of types of anemia is controversial.
Which thalassemia is incompatible with life?
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 gender is thalassemia most common in?
Conclusions: This study demonstrates a gender difference not only in the prevalence of osteoporosis/osteopenia in patients with TM, but also in the severity of the disorder, as males are more frequently and severely affected than females.
