There is no optimal cure for thalassemia, and the current clinical treatments are: blood transfusion therapy, iron removal therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and splenectomy.
Thalassemia, also known as dysglobinopoietic anemia, is clinically manifested as anemia, splenomegaly, and jaundice. The most common types of thalassemia in clinic are α, β bead protein production disorder anemia.
1. Blood transfusion treatment: when hemoglobin is lower than 90g/L, blood transfusion treatment can be carried out. Hemoglobin needs to be maintained above 90g/L after transfusion.
2. Deferritization treatment: Since patients with thalassemia major need repeated blood transfusion treatment, it will cause iron overload, and the excessive iron will be deposited in important organs and cause dysfunction. Iron removal treatment includes drugs such as deferoxamine, deferiprone and deferasirox.
3. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: It is currently the only method to cure severe β-pearl protein production disorder anemia.
4. Splenectomy: splenectomy is indicated when there is splenomegaly, hypersplenism, recurrent infections and bleeding, and when the age is more than 5 years old.
If there are symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor and follow the doctor’s instructions.