Alpha ThalassemiaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Alpha Thalassemia
View Main Condition: Thalassemia
Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body.
Alpha thalassemia typically results from deletions involving the HBA1 and HBA2 genes. Less commonly, changes to the DNA sequence in or near these genes cause alpha thalassemia. Such changes are often referred to as nondeletion variants. Both the HBA1 and HBA2 genes provide instructions for making a protein called alpha-globin, which is a component (subunit) of hemoglobin.
Alpha thalassemia is a fairly common blood disorder worldwide. Thousands of infants with Hb Bart syndrome and HbH disease are born each year, particularly in Southeast Asia. Alpha thalassemia also occurs frequently in people from Mediterranean countries, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Central Asia.
The inheritance of alpha thalassemia is complex. Each person inherits two alpha-globin alleles from each parent. If both parents are missing at least one alpha-globin allele, their children are at risk of having Hb Bart syndrome, HbH disease, or alpha thalassemia trait. The precise risk depends on how many alleles are missing and which combination of the HBA1 and HBA2 genes is affected.
Center For Complex Obstetric Medicine
Mary Norton is a Neonatologist and a Medical Genetics provider practicing medicine in San Francisco, California. Dr. Norton is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Alpha Thalassemia. She is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Fetal Edema, Hydrops Fetalis, Alpha Thalassemia, and Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn. Dr. Norton is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, American Board Of Medical Genetics And Genomics, Clinical Genetics And Genomics, and American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Norton is currently accepting new patients.
Center For Complex Obstetric Medicine
Teresa Sparks is a Neonatologist practicing medicine in San Francisco, California. Dr. Sparks is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Alpha Thalassemia. She is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Fetal Edema, Hydrops Fetalis, Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn, and Alpha Thalassemia. Dr. Sparks is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, American Board Of OB/Gyn/Maternal & Fetal Medicine, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and American Board Of Medical Genetics And Genomics, Clinical Genetics And Genomics. Dr. Sparks is currently accepting new patients.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Elliott Vichinsky is a Hematologist and an Oncologist practicing medicine in Oakland, California. Dr. Vichinsky is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Alpha Thalassemia. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Congenital Hemolytic Anemia, Hemoglobinopathy, Hemolytic Anemia, Splenectomy, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
Summary: This is an international prospective registry of patients with Alpha thalassemia to understand the natural history of the disease and the outcomes of fetal therapies, with the overall goal of improving the prenatal management of patients with Alpha thalassemia.
Summary: The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of mitapivat versus placebo on anemia in pediatric participants with alpha- or beta-non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia.
Published Date: December 02, 2022
Published By: National Institutes of Health