Dr Gaurav Kharya, Clinical Lead, Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi gives detailed insights into how treatment for thalassemia at the right can save patients, importance of tests to detect the disorder and preventive measures to be taken
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to have less haemoglobin than the normal levels. It is mostly caused by mutations in the DNA of cells that make haemoglobin and carries oxygen throughout the body. The mutations associated with thalassemia are passed from parents to children. Diagnosis of thalassemia can be made by simple test either Hb electrophoresis or preferably high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The test should be conducted before any blood transfusion otherwise they become difficult to interpret. Subsequently, a confirmatory genetic test should be done wherever possible. Over the past few years treatments for thalassemia major have evolved:
Excerpt from:
Recent advancements in management and treatment of thalassemia - Express Healthcare
Recommendation and review posted by G. Smith
