‘More awareness needed to check thalassemia’

Thalassemia is an inherited genetic blood disorder that leads to decreased synthesis of globin chains, a component of haemoglobin molecule, resulting in anaemia. The problem is more common in tribal population of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Thalassemia is classified into alpha Thalassemia and beta Thalassemia.

According to experts, beta Thalassemia is more common which is classified into three types based on its severity —beta thalassemia major, minor (Thalassemia trait) and intermedia. Thalassemia may be present at birth and usually has no symptoms. During childhood, the disease causes malnutrition, anaemia, jaundice, protuberant abdomen due to enlargement of liver and spleen, mongoloid faces and stones in gall bladder.

Diagnosis matters

“The disease can be diagnosed by blood tests, which shows microcytic hypochromic anaemia increased reticulocyte count and haemoglobin electrophoresis indicated by high levels of foetal haemoglobin and decreased proportion of adult haemoglobin and by doing HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography),” says Dr. A. Bhagyalakshmi, Professor and Head, Department of Pathology of Andhra Medical College (AMC).

“The Thalassemia Centre at the King George Hospital (KGH) was established a year ago. Around 200 cases have been identified so far. We are getting at least one new case every month, mostly from the three north Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, besides the cases from neighbouring Odisha and Chhattisgarh,” Dr. P. Venugopal, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, AMC said.

Marrow transplantation

“The only solution is bone marrow transplantation for which the cost will be around ₹50 lakh. Alternatively, blood transfusion has to be done every month. For every bottle of blood given to the patient, iron gets deposited in the heart, liver and other vital organs, causing dysfunction,” he says.

“Iron chelator drugs will be useful in overcoming the problem. To reduce the risk of Transfer Transmittable Infections (TTI s), during blood transfusion to patients, fourth generation kits should be used by blood banks,” says Dr. Venugopal.