Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Major => Topic started by: sighvang on August 17, 2008, 05:43:18 AM

Title: What you classify this as Thal major or minor?
Post by: sighvang on August 17, 2008, 05:43:18 AM

My husband has Thal major, but during his life he got his spleen removed about 6 years ago and since then the doctor told him that he no longer had to do transfusions anymore....from what i understand...thal major is classified as that you have to get transfusions...but my hubby has thal major and he does not have to have transfusions...would u guys classify this as thal major...or is he thal minor now.....i get so confused sometimes..can someone help me...i think this website is great and really has helpful information...????/

Title: Re: What you classify this as Thal major or minor?
Post by: §ãJ¡Ð ساجد on August 17, 2008, 06:25:05 AM

Hi,

In my opinion he is either Thal. Intermedia or was Thal. minor with severe symptoms that required spleenectomy in later life.

You could have gotten a better picture if he had done his blood tests earlier.

An intermedia's Hb hovers around 6-8 g/dl through early life and later might require transfusions which can be delayed or avoided if spleenectomy is done.

A minor's Hb remains quite higher about 8-12g/dl for men and most of the times don't require any special treatment; such are called Thal. Minima or Minors without symptoms.

While there are Thal. Minors who have some complications like lethargy, dizziness and paleness which is a result of very low Hb levels and possibly due to a hyperactive spleen. This can be cured by transfusions or spleenectomy

Title: Re: What you classify this as Thal major or minor?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on August 17, 2008, 04:17:33 PM

He would be classified as thal intermedia, and previously the classification as major was based on his transfusion dependency, but this could also have been classified as transfusing intermedia.

Title: Re: What you classify this as Thal major or minor?
Post by: howard on October 16, 2008, 10:59:49 AM

I was previously had HepC too and I was those lucky few who was able to build the antibody to kill the virus away. But HepC can be a huge problem and although it might not cause you a problem now but you wont know in future when it turns Chronic.

Best advise is to treat the Hep C asap and heard that most patient is given Interfrone and Rabravine also but that could cause your HB to drop tremendously w those medication so talk to your doc and decide