Alpha Thalassemia Information

Alpha Thalassemia Information

Hemoglobin is made up of many different parts, including alpha globin. Alpha globin is produced by four genes and when any of those genes are not working properly the body makes less hemoglobin. This is called alpha thalassemia and occurs in four different forms, depending on the number of genes not working. One form of alpha thalassemia cannot turn into another kind. Your child will have that form for his or her entire life. The alpha thalassemias can be generally categorized as: Silent Carrier, Alpha Thalassemia Trait, Hemoglobin H disease, Hemoglobin H-Constant Spring, and Alpha Thalassemia major. Frequently, the diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait in a parent is discovered after the birth of an affected child.

If one or two non-working genes for alpha globin do not cause any health problems, why do I need to know that my child has alpha thalassemia ?

Although one or two non-working alpha globin genes do not cause any health problems, you and your baby's doctor should know that it can cause a mild anemia (low number of red blood cells). It is also important to know about your child's alpha thalassemia status because future children in your family, or other family members, may be at risk for more serious forms of alpha thalassemia which are described on the next page. Also, people with the silent carrier form or alpha thalassemia trait can pass the gene(s) to their children

Signs and symptoms of Alpha Thalassemia

Signs and symptoms of Alpha Thalassemia appear in the first 2 years of life.

• pale and listless
• have poor appetites
• grow slowly
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• The spleen, liver, and heart may also be enlarged.

More information on thalassemia

Beta thalassemia
Alpha Thalassemia
Thalassemia minor
Thalassemia major
Thalassemia Symptom