Thalassemia Treatment: Advancements and Approaches for Better Management
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder characterized by the body’s inability to produce adequate healthy hemoglobin, leading to anemia, fatigue, and a range of complications affecting the spleen, liver, and heart. While this condition is inherited and cannot be entirely prevented, advances in medical treatment have significantly improved the quality of life and life expectancy for patients worldwide.
The cornerstone of thalassemia management is regular blood transfusions, which help maintain healthy hemoglobin levels and prevent severe anemia. These transfusions, however, can lead to iron overload in vital organs, necessitating careful monitoring. To address this, patients often require iron chelation therapy, a treatment designed to remove excess iron from the body. Medications such as deferasirox, deferoxamine, and deferiprone have proven effective in managing iron accumulation, thereby reducing the risk of heart and liver complications associated with long-term transfusions.
Beyond conventional transfusions, bone marrow…