There are two common types of thalassaemia: Thalassaemia Minor and Thalassaemia Major.
Usually, thalassaemia minor patients do not need any treatment, except in some cases during pregnancy or when there is an associated disease. However, thalassaemia major patients require a more careful approach.
Vitamins, tonics, medication and diet have no effect on thalassaemia. Blood transfusion is needed each 2 to 4 weeks to correct the anemia and to ensure all tissues get a normal amount of oxygen.
Continuous transfusions lead to iron overload, which can be deposited in the heart, liver and other vital organs, and may cause irreversible damage.
The only medication currently used to remove iron from the body is desferrioxamine, also called Desferal. This medication is administered to the patient and the longer it remains in the body, the more efficient it is. For this reason patients use an appliance called Infusion Pump, which extends the duration of Desferal administration.
A cure alternative being very exhaustively researched is Bone Marrow Transplantation. The bone marrow of a thalassaemic patient is not able to produce a normal amount of red cells. If the bad bone marrow is replaced by a normal one, the problem is resolved.
In order to have this surgery performed, a totally compatible donator is
needed. The best donators are the siblings of the thalassaemic patient. Usually,
one of each four siblings is a compatible donator.
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