Shortened erythrocyte lifespan is due to deletion or point mutation of the pearl protein genes. There are 4 types of peptide chains that make up pearl proteins, namely α, β, γ, and δ chains, which are encoded by their corresponding genes. The deletion or point mutation of these genes can cause impaired synthesis of various peptide chains, resulting in alteration of the components of hemoglobin. Usually, thalassemia is classified into 4 types, such as α, β, δβ and δ, among which β and α thalassemia are more common. Alpha thalassemia The human a-hemoglobin gene cluster is located at 16Pter-p13.3. There are two a-hemoglobin genes on each chromosome and four a-hemoglobin genes on a pair of chromosomes. Most a-thalassemia (referred to as a-thalassemia) is due to deletion of the a-jugin gene, with a few caused by point mutations. If only one a gene on one chromosome is missing or defective, the synthesis of the alpha chain is partially suppressed and the condition is called a+ thalassemia, and if two a genes on each chromosome are missing or defective, the condition is called a0 thalassemia. Severe α-dysplasia is a pure state of a0-dysplasia, in which all four a-globin genes are missing or defective, resulting in the complete absence of a-chain production, and thus the synthesis of HhA, HbA2 and HbF, which contain the a-chain, is reduced. HbBart’s has a very high affinity for oxygen, causing tissue hypoxia and fetal edema syndrome. Intermediate and α-dysplasia is a heterozygous state of α0 and a+-dysplasia, caused by the deletion or defect of 3 a-bead protein genes. patients can only synthesize a small amount of α-chains, and their excess β-chains are synthesized as HbH(β4). HbH has a high affinity for oxygen, and is an unstable hemoglobin, which is easily denatured and precipitated in erythrocytes to form inclusion bodies, causing erythrocyte membrane stiffness and shortening the life span of erythrocytes. Mild alpha-geodystrophy is a+ geodystrophy pure or a0 geodystrophy heterozygous state, it only has 2 a-geodystrophy genes missing or defective, so there is a considerable amount of a-chain synthesis, and the pathophysiological changes are mild. The resting a-dysplasia is an a+-dysplasia heterozygous state, which has only one alpha gene deletion or defect, and the synthesis of a-chain is slightly reduced, and the pathophysiological changes are very mild. Because red blood cells do not have a nucleus or organelles, they cannot make their own structures or maintain them for long. The amount of red blood cell destruction in the body is about 1% per day and needs to be replenished. Based on this calculation, the body produces one million cells per day. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells produced during fetal hematopoiesis is the fetal hemoglobin HgbF, which is suitable for gas exchange under low oxygen conditions in the womb, and during adult hematopoiesis, the hemoglobin is transformed into the adult hemoglobin HgbA. White blood cells can swallow bacteria and viruses that enter the body, as well as “foreign substances” produced by metabolism that are harmful to the body. Leukocytes also have an immune function. After engulfment, they die and are excreted, so they have a short life span. The average life span of white blood cells is very short, about 7-14 days. Red blood cells have the longest life span of the three types of blood cells (including white blood cells and platelets). The longest life span of red blood cells is 130 days, with an average of 120 days and some surviving only 100 days. The average life span of red blood cells is 120 days. The mechanical pressure on the red blood cells as they pass through the different blood vessels in the body can cause a lot of damage to the red blood cells. After about 120 days, the cell membrane breaks down and the red blood cell dies. Hypoxia, inherent defects in red blood cells, hemolytic diseases, and physical and chemical factors that cause red blood cell destruction can shorten the life span of red blood cells to 10-15 days or less. Antioxidant effects such as vitamin E and reduced glutathione can be tried to prolong the life span of red blood cells.