Question

What's Thalassemia Alpha

Answer 1

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 sorts of alpha thalassemia: Alpha thalassemia silent carrier. One gene is missing or damaged, and therefore the other 3 are normal.

Complete answer:
Alpha thalassemia is a blood disease that reduces the assembly of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. In people with the characteristic features of alpha thalassemia, a discount within the amount of hemoglobin prevents enough oxygen from reaching the body's tissues. Affected individuals even have a shortage of red blood cells, which may cause pale skin, weakness, fatigue, and more serious complications.

Two sorts of alpha thalassemia can cause health problems. The more severe type is understood as hemoglobin Bart hydrops fetalis syndrome, which is additionally called Hb Bart syndrome or alpha Cooley's anemia . The milder form is named HbH disease.

HbH disease causes mild to moderate anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice). Some affected individuals even have bone changes like overgrowth of the upper jawbone and a strangely prominent forehead. The features of HbH disease usually appear in infancy , and affected individuals typically live into adulthood.

Note: A somatic cell transplant is the only treatment which will cure thalassemia. But only a little number of individuals who have severe thalassemias are ready to find an honest donor match and have the risky procedure. For more information, attend the Health Topics Blood and Marrow somatic cell Transplant article.