What are the 4 types of alpha thalassemia?
There are 4 types of alpha thalassemia:
- Alpha thalassemia silent carrier. One gene is missing or damaged, and the other 3 are normal. Blood tests are usually normal.
- Alpha thalassemia carrier. Two genes are missing.
- Hemoglobin H disease. Three genes are missing.
- Alpha thalassemia major. All 4 genes are missing.
What does a CBC look like with thalassemia?
A complete blood count (CBC), which includes measures of hemoglobin and the quantity (and size) of red blood cells. People with thalassemias have fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal; those with alpha or beta thalassemia trait may have smaller-than-normal red blood cells.
How can a blood test detect thalassemia?
Doctors diagnose thalassemias using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests.
- A CBC measures the amount of hemoglobin and the different kinds of blood cells, such as red blood cells, in a sample of blood.
- Hemoglobin tests measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample.
What is the normal lab value for hemoglobin and hematocrit?
Results
| Red blood cell count | Male: 4.35-5.65 trillion cells/L* (4.35-5.65 million cells/mcL**) Female: 3.92-5.13 trillion cells/L (3.92-5.13 million cells/mcL) |
|---|---|
| Hemoglobin | Male: 13.2-16.6 grams/dL*** (132-166 grams/L) Female: 11.6-15 grams/dL (116-150 grams/L) |
| Hematocrit | Male: 38.3-48.6 percent Female: 35.5-44.9 percent |
Is alpha thalassemia serious?
In addition to anemia and hydrops fetalis, severe cases of alpha thalassemia and hemoglobin H disease can lead to serious complications, especially if untreated. Complications of alpha thalassemia include: Excess iron.
What is the difference between beta thalassemia and alpha thalassemia?
When thalassemia is called “alpha” or “beta,” this refers to the part of hemoglobin that isn’t being made. If either the alpha or beta part is not made, there aren’t enough building blocks to make normal amounts of hemoglobin. Low alpha is called alpha thalassemia. Low beta is called beta thalassemia.
What is the difference between alpha and beta thalassemia?
What is beta thalassemia symptoms?
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Beta Thalassemia?
- tiredness.
- shortness of breath.
- a fast heartbeat.
- pale skin.
- yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- moodiness.
- slow growth.
At what age is thalassemia detected?
Most children with moderate to severe thalassemia receive a diagnosis by the time they are 2 years old. People with no symptoms may not realize that they are carriers until they have a child with thalassemia. Blood tests can detect if a person is a carrier or if they have thalassemia.
What are the symptoms of alpha thalassemia?
Some of the more common symptoms of alpha thalassemia include:
- fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
- a pale appearance or a yellow color to the skin (jaundice)
- irritability.
- deformities of the facial bones.
- slow growth.
- a swollen abdomen.
- dark urine.
Why would a patient have low hemoglobin and hematocrit?
Diseases and conditions that cause your body to produce fewer red blood cells than normal include: Aplastic anemia. Cancer. Certain medications, such as antiretroviral drugs for HIV infection and chemotherapy drugs for cancer and other conditions.
Why is my hemoglobin and hematocrit low?
Low RBC counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels can be caused by other things too, such as a lot of bleeding or malnutrition (not enough nutrients in the food eaten). Kidney disease, liver disease (cirrhosis), cancer, and medications used to treat cancer can also cause low levels.
What is the HCT to HB ratio for alpha thalassemia?
From CBC, the Hct to Hb ratio of 3.25 or more is considered positive for the alpha-thalassemias and Hb analysis using HPLC method is used as the gold standard. Results: From 300 participants, there are 130 with the alpha-thalassemias and 170 with non-alpha-thalassemias consisting of 101 with beta thalassemia / Hb E disease and 69 with Hb E disease.
How is the hematocrit of red blood cells determined?
The hematocritmeasures the volume of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume (red blood cells and plasma). The normal hematocrit for men is 40 to 54%; for women it is 36 to 48%. This value can be determined directly by microhematocrit centrifugation or calculated indirectly.
How is hemoglobin expressed in red blood cells?
Hemoglobin(Hb) is the protein contained in red blood cells that is responsible for delivery of oxygen to the tissues. To ensure adequate tissue oxygenation, a sufficient hemoglobin level must be maintained. The amount of hemoglobin in whole blood is expressed in grams per deciliter (g/dl).
What’s the validity of the HCT / hemoglobin ratio?
Background: The hematocrit (Hct) to hemoglobin (Hb) ratio is newly found to be 3.25 – 4.12 in alpha-thalassemias, instead of 3.0 as found in normal people. Objective: To test the validity of the Hct / Hb ratio of 3.25 or more in the diagnosis of the alpha-thalassemias.