Thalassemia
heme and globin. The globin part of hemoglobin is made up of four polypeptide chains. In normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A), the predominant type of hemoglobin after the first year of life, two of the globin chains are identical to each other and are called the alpha chains. The other two chains, which are also identical to each other but are different from the alpha chains, are called the beta chains. In fetal hemoglobin (Hb F), the predominant hemoglobin during fetal development, there are two alpha chains and two different chains called gamma chains. In thalassemia, there is a mutation (change) in one or both of the alpha or beta globin chains. Depending on which globin chain is affected, the mutation leads to underproduction or absence of that globin chain, a deficiency of hemoglobin, and anemia. The carriers of heterozygous forms of alpha and beta thalassemia have red cell anomalies that range from very mild to severe.
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The dire disease also known as beta thalassemia. The clinical picture of this form of anemia was first described in 1925 by the pediatrician Thomas Benton Cooley. Other names for the disease are Cooley’s anemia and Mediterranean anemia. The term thalassemia was coined by the Nobel Prize winning pathologist George Whipple and the professor of […]
- Thalassemia minor
Also called thalassemia trait, thalassemia minor is the carrier state for beta thalassemia. People who are carriers (heterozygotes) have just one thalassemia gene, are said to have thalassemia minor, and are essentially normal
- Thalassemia, alpha
heme and globin. Globin is made up of 4 polypeptide chains. In normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A), the predominant type of hemoglobin after the first year of life, 2 of the globin polypeptide chains are identical to one another and are designated the alpha chains. The other 2 chains are also identical to one another […]
- Thalassemia, beta
Also known as thalassemia major .The clinical picture of this important type of anemia was first described in 1925 by the pediatrician Thomas Benton Cooley.. Other names for the disease are Cooley’s anemia and Mediterranean anemia. The name thalassemia was coined by the Nobel Prize winning pathologist George Whipple and the professor of pediatrics Wm […]
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