Can thalassemia cause blood clots?

Affected individuals also have a shortage of red blood cells (anemia ), which can cause pale skin, weakness, fatigue, and more serious complications. People with beta thalassemia are at an increased risk of developing abnormal blood clots.

Does thalassemia affect brain?

Results: Of the patients with thalassemia intermedia, 37.5% showed asymptomatic brain damage, and 52% of those with sickle cell-thalassemia disease showed asymptomatic brain damage.

What are the long term effects of thalassemia?

Children with thalassemia intermedia and major can have growth abnormalities from chronic anemia, a hypermetabolic state, endocrine abnormalities, poor nutrition, and iron overload, among others.

What are risks of thalassemia?

People who have family members from certain parts of the world have a higher risk for having thalassemia. Traits for thalassemia are more common in people from Mediterranean countries, like Greece and Turkey, and in people from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

What is the best treatment for thalassemia?

For moderate to severe thalassemia, treatments might include:

• Frequent blood transfusions. More severe forms of thalassemia often require frequent blood transfusions, possibly every few weeks.
• Chelation therapy. This is treatment to remove excess iron from your blood.
• Stem cell transplant.

Can thalassemia major Be Cured?

Bone marrow and stem cell transplant from a compatible related donor is the only treatment that can cure thalassemia. It is the most effective treatment.

Does thalassemia shorten life expectancy?

A person with the thalassemia trait has a normal life expectancy. However, heart complications arising from beta thalassemia major can make this condition fatal before the age of 30 years.

What should I eat if I have thalassemia?

Nutrition & Thalassemia It is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet. Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables & Vitamin C-rich foods is the best option for thalassemic patients.

How many years do thalassemia patients live?

“Most thalassaemia patients would live up to the age of 25 to 30 years. Improved facilities will help them live up to the age of 60,” said Dr Mamata Manglani, head of pediatrics, Sion hospital.

How are red blood cells affected by thalassemia?

Stroke Risk With Thalassemia. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells (RBC) cannot manufacture normal forms of hemoglobin therefore resulting in the reduction of the total amount of oxygen-carrying capabilities of the cell. Normal RBC’s are visually large, round and numerous in size and association.

Are there any cerebral complications associated with thalassemia?

There have been numerous reports of thromboembolic complications associated with thalassemia, many describing cerebral thrombotic events.

What’s the life expectancy of someone with thalassemia?

Despite the difficulties associated with treatment, standards of care for thalassemic patients have improved in recent years, resulting in almost doubling of the average life expectancy. As a consequence, additional previously undescribed, complications are now being recognized.

Is there a hypercoagulable state in thalassemic patients?

The presence of a higher than normal incidence of thromboembolic events, mainly in β-TI, and the existence of prothrombotic hemostatic anomalies in the majority of the patients, even from a very young age, have led to the recognition of the existence of a chronic hypercoagulable state in thalassemic patients.