There are several types of thalassaemia. The most common one in Brazil and in the world is the ß-Thalassaemia type. Depending on the severity of this deficiency, there are different presentations of the disease, but usually two types of ß-thalassaemia are identified: Thalassaemia Minor (or thalassaemic trait) and Thalassaemia Major. Some patients are between these two extremes, being considered as Thalassaemia Intermedia patients.
The thalassaemia minor, or thalassaemic trait, does not need treatment; however, it is very important to find out if the person carries the disease. Since it is a genetic deficiency it can be transmitted to sons and daughters, who may be born with thalassaemia major, if both parents are carriers of the thalassaemic trait.
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The thalassaemia major, when not treated, causes worsening of anemia, interruption of growth and enlargement of the spleen. The bone marrow (the tissue that produces red cells), grows inside the bones, in an attempt to produce more and more red cells.
However, the red cells produced by the bone marrow do not contain enough haemoglobin. As time goes by, the spleen, responsible for destroying old red cells in circulation, begins to destroy also the young red cells, which is followed by destruction of white cells and platelets.
Today, this picture can be avoided if adequate treatment is implemented right after the diagnosis of the disease.
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