Beta-thalassemia medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maryam Hadipour, M.D.[2]
Overview
The mainstay of treatment for beta-thalassemia major is blood transfusion. Chelation therapy is also required to manage iron overload resulting from repeated transfusions. In less severe cases, folic acid supplementation may be recommended to support red blood cell production.
Medical Therapy
Anyone with thalassemia should consult a properly qualified hematologist.
Thalassemias may co-exist with other deficiencies such as folic acid (or folate, a B-complex vitamin) and iron deficiency (only in Thalassemia Minor).
Thalassemia Major and Intermedia
Thalassemia Major patients receive frequent blood transfusions that lead to iron overload. Iron chelation treatment is necessary to prevent iron overload damage to the internal organs in patients with Thalassemia Major. Because of recent advances in iron chelation treatments, patients with Thalassemia Major can live long lives if they have access to proper treatment. Popular chelators include deferoxamine and deferiprone. Of the two, deferoxamine is preferred; it is more effective and is associated with fewer side-effects.[1]
The most common complaint by patients receiving deferoxamine is that it is difficult to comply with the subcutaneous chelation treatments because they are painful and inconvenient. The oral chelator deferasirox (marketed as Exjade by Novartis) was approved for use in 2005 in some countries. It offers some hope with compliance but is very expensive (~US$100 per day) and has been associated with deaths from toxicity.
Untreated thalassemia Major eventually leads to death usually by heart failure, therefore birth screening is very important.
Bone marrow transplantation is the only cure for thalassemia, and is indicated for patients with severe thalassemia major. Transplantation can eliminate a patient's dependence on transfusions.
All Thalassemia patients are susceptible to health complications that involve the spleen (which is often enlarged and frequently removed) and gall stones. These complications are mostly prevalent to thalassemia Major and Intermedia patients.
Thalassemia Intermedia patients vary a lot in their treatment needs depending on the severity of their anemia.
Thalassemia Minor
Contrary to popular belief, Thalassemia Minor patients should not avoid iron-rich foods by default. A serum ferritin test can determine what their iron levels are and guide them to further treatment if necessary. Thalassemia Minor, although not life threatening on its own, can affect quality of life due to the effects of a mild to moderate anemia. Studies have shown that Thalassemia Minor often coexists with other diseases such as asthma[2], and mood disorders[3].
References
- ↑ Maggio A, D'Amico G; et al. (2002). "Deferiprone versus deferoxamine in patients with thalassemia major: a randomized clinical trial". Blood Cells Mol Dis. 28 (2): 196–208. doi:10.1006/bcmd.2002.0510. PMID 12064916.
- ↑ Palma-Carlos AG, Palma-Carlos ML, Costa AC (2005). ""Minor" hemoglobinopathies: a risk factor for asthma". Allerg Immunol (Paris). 3 (5): 177–82. PMID 15984316.
- ↑ Brodie BB (2005). "Heterozygous β-thalassaemia as a susceptibility factor in mood disorders: excessive prevalence in bipolar patients". Clin Pract Epidemiol Mental Health. 1: 6. doi:10.1186/1745-0179-1-6. PMC 1156923. PMID 15967056.