Hemoglobin Levels (cont.)
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
What is thalassemia?Thalassemia is a genetic disease that is caused by one or more genes that control the production of either the alpha or beta protein that make up the structure of hemoglobin. A person has alpha or beta thalassemia; these two types have many subtypes, but are usually grouped into one of two major subtypes termed thalassemia major and thalassemia minor. Individuals with alpha or beta thalassemia major inherit defective genes from both parents, while those with thalassemia minor inherit defective genes from only one parent. Most people with thalassemia minor may have small red blood cells, but otherwise have almost no symptoms. Unfortunately, individuals with thalassemia major usually develop severe anemia during the first year of life and can develop facial abnormalities, growth failure, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Treatment for thalassemia major is frequent blood transfusions and in some individuals, bone marrow transplants. Next Page: Must Read Articles Related to Hemoglobin Levels
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