Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Intermedia => Topic started by: NSXNICK on February 01, 2017, 05:59:24 PM

Title: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: NSXNICK on February 01, 2017, 05:59:24 PM

my one yr old son was diagnosed with thalasemmia minor  but then we were called back later for my wife and i to have genetic testing ,she is a trait carrier i havent been tested yet but i saw his hemoglobin is low and his  hgb f is higher at 10% for thalasemmia minor  please  help with results our pediatrician doesnt really care to help us did anybody have similar results? with either intermedia or minor?
wbc 6.9
hemoglobin 9.0
hermatocrit 26.9
mean cell volume 58.2
red cell distrib width 19.3
mean cell hemoglobin 19.5
mean cell hemoglobin conc 33.4


hgb a 85.2%
hgb a2 4.8%
hgb f 10%

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on February 01, 2017, 06:09:32 PM

It looks like minor, but the HbF is pretty high for a minor. Intermedia would normally have a much lower percentage of HbA.
DNA testing is definitely the next step. It may be an unusual genotype, but technically, it's will be thal minor.

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: NSXNICK on February 07, 2017, 04:16:14 AM

hi andy ,is 9 low hemoglobin for a beta than minor?
and i purchased wheatgrass supershots and folic acid liquid is that okay for a 13 month baby? I'm giving meat avocado chicken  enriched cereal and switching to goat milk to try to boast up hemoglobin any other suggestions

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on February 07, 2017, 04:43:34 AM

Yes, they're both suitable for all ages. 9 is a little low for most minors. Hopefully, it will rise with nutrition.

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: NSXNICK on February 07, 2017, 05:39:59 AM

thank you for the input and help!

                                         

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Princeimran86 on September 08, 2017, 08:02:01 AM

Hi , even my son had similar results of Hb A 70.8 Hb F 20 and Hba2 8 and his hemoglobin stays around 8.5 but doctor diagnosed him as thall Intermedia.. My wife also have low Hemoglobin around 10.5 so she might be a Thal carrier but for me I never had any issues with my blood count but even I have never been tested for Thalessemia too

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Mubeen on September 08, 2017, 10:25:40 AM

dear my son with same problem his age of two year and hb maintain 8 to 9. he use hydra and folic acid.
he is beat plus sickle cell

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on September 14, 2017, 11:08:19 PM

Folate supplements are essential, especially for non-transfusing intermedia patients. Any form of wheatgrass can also be of benefit in maintaining Hb. I would also add magnesium and zinc as musts.

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Anshulj on April 12, 2018, 06:04:34 PM

Despite of wheat grass and vit e tablets my hb is 8gm..
My spleen size is 20cm..What should I do?

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on April 14, 2018, 06:57:39 PM

Anshulji,

You are beta thal with an alpha triplication. This can lead to an intermedia condition, because far too much alpha globin is being produced and not enough beta globin is being produced. This creates an imbalance and the excess alpha chains form tetramers that basically cause havoc in the body. It also means that the red cells produced can be unstable and easily destroyed, resulting in the large spleen.

Has your doctor suggested a splenectomy? In this case, it may be of great help (I usually do not support splenectomy, but the triplicated alpha gene does present unique problems).

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Anshulj on April 22, 2018, 05:59:54 PM

Thanks Andy..
Any remedies which I should try before splenectomy?

Does splenomegaly will cause any other problems?

Title: Re: thalasemmia beta minor or intermedia?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on April 29, 2018, 05:04:34 PM

I have been told that drinking muskmelon juice will decrease spleen size. Papaya and papaya leaves are also mentioned by patients as useful for the spleen.