What+are+the+different+types+of+Thallesemia?

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 * Content**s:
 * 1) Intro to Thallasemia
 * 2) **__Types__**
 * 3) Causes
 * 4) Symptoms
 * 5) Effects
 * 6) Treatments
 * 7) Personal Stories
 * 8) Links

= = =__Types of Thallasemia__=

Categories of Thallasemia:
1. **Thallasemia major** in which the defective gene is inherited from both parents. It is the most severe form, called Cooley's anemia. 2. **Thallasemia intermedia** is a mild Cooley's anemia. 3. **Thallasemia minor** where the defective gene is inherited from one parent and the other is a carrier. It may cause no symptoms, but changes in the blood may occur.

There are two types of thallasemia: **alpha-thallasemia** and **beta-thallasemia**. Their names describe which part of the hemoglobin molecule that is effected, the alpha or the beta chain.

- Found in people whose hemoglobin does not produce enough alpha protein. - Commonly found in: Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, southern China, and occasionally the Mediterranean region.
 * Alpha-Thallasemia**

There are four types of alpha thallasemia that range from mild to severe in their effect on the body. Source: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/peds_hematology/thalapth.cfm////
 * Types of alpha-thallasemia:**
 * alpha thallasemia major - all four alpha chain genes are deleted. It is so severe that death can occur
 * hemoglobin H disease - three alpha chain genes are deleted. Hemoglobin H disease occurs when a person has only one functioning alpha chain gene, resulting in a hemolytic anemia that can worsen with febrile illness or exposure to certain drugs, chemicals, or infectious agents. Persons with hemoglobin H disease are at increased risk to have a child with alpha thallesemia major, since they carry one #16 chromosome with an alpha chain two gene deletion (cis deletion).
 * alpha thallasemia carrier - two alpha chain genes are deleted, either:
 * both from the same #16 chromosome, called a "cis deletion"
 * one from both #16 chromosomes, called a "trans deletion"
 * when parents are carriers of the cis deletion, there is a one in four, or 25 percent, chance with each pregnancy, to have a baby with alpha thallasemia major.
 * silent alpha thallasemia carrier - one alpha chain gene is deleted (the other three are normal). Blood tests are usually normal and is the least severe out of all four types.

- Found in people whose hemoglobin does not produce enough beta protein - Commonly found in: Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Africa, Southeast Asia and southern China.
 * Beta-Thallasemia**

There are three types of beta thallasemia that also range from mild to severe in their effect on the body. //Source:// [| sections.php?sec=1//**|**//www.cooleysanemia.org/ sections.php?sec=1//**] http://www.cooleysanemia.org/sections.php?sec=1
 * Types of beta-thallasemia:**
 * beta-thallasemia minor - a person has one normal gene and one with a mutation. Lack of beta protein in this condition is not great enough to cause problems in the normal functioning of the hemoglobin. A person with this condition only carries genetic trait of thallasemia and will usually experience no health problems other than a possible mild anemia.
 * thallasemia intermedia - the affected person has two abnormal genes but is still producing beta globin. It is more severe than beta-thallasemia minor and may cause a moderately severe anemia.
 * thallasemia major (cooley's anemia) - this is the most severe form of beta thallasemia in which the person affected would have two abnormal genes that causes a complete lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin. This may lead to a life-threatening anemia.

[|Cool website on Beta-Thallesemia] //Source:www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1516-8484200500...// //Source:// [|//www.bloodline.net/stories/storyReader$2344//]
 * Picture of Alpha-Thallasemia Cells**
 * Picture of Beta-Thallasemia Cells**

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