Thalassemia Patients and Friends
Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Minor => Topic started by: Andy Battaglia on December 15, 2017, 01:36:12 AM
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I just found this article tonight and what many thal minors believe to be true, appears to really be the case. There is a connection between beta thal trait and autoimmune disorders.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51525463_b-Thalassemia_trait_association_with_autoimmune_diseases_b-globin_locus_proximity_to_the_immunity_genes_or_role_of_hemorphins
Conclusions:
Near the β-globin locus at 11p15.5, there are specific immunity genes, which not only match with the autoimmunity susceptibility of thalassemia trait but also with their renal disease susceptibility (e.g., the tetraspanin CD151). All these strongly suggest close gene linkages at the same band changing the disease susceptibilities of thalassemia carriers. Moreover, thalassemia-heterozygote mutations may change the expression and/or synthesis ratios of hemorphins, which are derived via proteolytical cleavage of hemoglobin, mainly the β-chain. Since hemorphins are closely linked to suppression of inflammation and neutrophil migration, their diminished synthesis could make thalassemia heterozygotes prone to autoimmunity. Whatever the relevant mechanism, closer investigation of autoimmunity-suffering thalassemia heterozygotes may provide very interesting mechanistic insights about the pathobiology of autoimmune disease.
So, all you thal minors who have talked about autoimmune disorders and your frustration with doctors who say there is no relationship to thal minor, now we have something to support what you all already suspected.
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Thanks for sharing Andy.
This is definitely food for thought. Do you know whether doctors (GPs) in general look at this type of research?
From my own personal experience the doctors I have seen do not. I have brought in some of the papers from this excellent resource and other papers I have found in relation to the symptomatology pertaining to thalassemia carriers and they tend to discount it, which really annoys me. Any suggestions on how I can engage my doctors in at least considering this research and its insights?
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As you have seen, many doctors do not appreciate when patients or parents do research on their own. Frankly, most doctors have almost no training in hemoglobin disorders, especially the carrier forms. Often ego will get in the way of researching when the knowledge is absent. Many doctors also have very little knowledge about nutrition and no knowledge at all about the depletion of nutrients in thalassemia.
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As you have seen, many doctors do not appreciate when patients or parents do research on their own. Frankly, most doctors have almost no training in hemoglobin disorders, especially the carrier forms. Often ego will get in the way of researching when the knowledge is absent. Many doctors also have very little knowledge about nutrition and no knowledge at all about the depletion of nutrients in thalassemia.
You are absolutely 100% correct on this.
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Interesting. I wonder what % of thal minors have an elevated ANA titer like myself (with no diagnosed autoimmune disease)...