Thalassaemia (Thalassemia) is the name given to a group of inherited blood diseases that affect the body's ability to create normal red blood cells.[1–3]
Normal red blood cells contain a substance called haemoglobin which delivers oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.[1,2]
In thalassaemia, the haemoglobin is damaged and can no longer carry oxygen as efficiently. Depending on the severity of the disease, this can cause multiple problems.[1–3]
Sickle cell anaemia (sickle cell anemia) is an inherited blood disease that affects red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen around the body.[1]
In this condition the cells become crescent or sickle shaped under certain conditions.[1]
These cells then cause blockages in small blood vessels which can result in multiple problems.[1]
MDS are a group of disorders in which production of fully formed, functioning (working) blood cells are disrupted.[4]
This disease is sometimes referred to as a type of pre-leukaemia and a proportion of patients may go on to develop acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).[4]
Symptoms vary quite widely depending on the severity of the disease.
Thalassaemia
- Understanding blood
- Thalassaemia diagnosis
- Types of Thalassaemia
- Thalassaemia treatment
- Bone marrow transplant
- Iron overload
- Getting rid of iron
- Iron chelation therapy
Iron in your diet
- Diet Dos and Donts
Bone Health
- Reduce Osteoporosis
Contraception
- Oral Contraceptives
- Injections and Implants
- IUD
- Sterilisation
Family Planning
Keeping active
Travel advice
Sickle cell anaemia
- Understanding blood
- Sickle cell diagnosis
- Types of sickle cell
- Thalassaemia treatment
- Sickle cell treatment
- Sickle cell complications
- Getting rid of iron
- Iron chelation therapy
Contraception
- Oral Contraceptives
- Injections and Implants
- IUD
- Sterilisation
Priapism
- Types of Priapism
- Coping with priapism
MDS
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Bone marrow failure
- Preleukaemia / Preleukemia
- Acute myeloid leukaemia / leukemia
- Leukaemia / Leukemia
- Increased bruising
- Anaemia / Anemia
Blood
Diagnosis
Typesof MDS
- RA / Refractory anemia / Refractory anaemia
- RARS / Refractory anemia / anaemia with ringed sideroblasts
- Del 5q / 5q-
- RAEB / Refractory anemia / anaemia with excess blasts
- RAEB-T / Refractory anemia / anaemia with excess blasts in transformation
- RCMD / Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia
Blood transfusions
- Transfusions
- Iron Toxicity
- Transfusional iron overload
- Ferritin
- Iron Overload
- Chelator / Chelation
Iron
1. Sarnaik SA. Indian J Pediatr 2005;72:319–324.
2. Weatherall DJ. BMJ 1997;314:1675–1678.
3. Weatherall DJ. BMJ 1997;314:492–496.
4. ACS: Overview: Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_1x.asp?rnav=criov&dt=65. Accessed July 2009.