My husband (DH), mother-in-law (MIL) and her sister, as well as my 2 daughters are all thal minor, although MIL has been dx'd as intermedia within the last few years as she has difficulty maintaining HgB above 7 consistently. The girls are only 6yo so we give a multi without iron (genetic testing indicates Beta zero). DH was dx'd 6 mo. ago with ankylosing spondylitis about 6 mo. ago via fused sacroiliac joint on x-ray. MIL has myasthenia gravis and MIL's sister has Crohn's. MIL was on steroids but now in remission. DH is on etanercept (Enbrel) injections weekly. He has low T (injections for that), low B (injections for that), vitamin D, magnesium, folic acid. He has had some side effects from the Enbrel that caused congestive heart failure type symptoms (swelling and heart palpitations, etc.), so he takes Lasix intermittently to get rid of the swelling and when that occurs he takes potassium too. Last set of bloodwork indicated his HgB is falling (around 13.7 a year ago and 10 now). I want to suggest wheatgrass but don't want it to counteract the effects of the Enbrel which according to DH causes at least a 25% reduction in his pain levels. He had encephalitis as a child, which resulted in some damage from the swelling, a coma and having to learn to walk again, so not sure on memory issues whether it is tied to that or thal minor. Anyhow, my question for Andy (or others) is, do you see or have you seen many cases or studies on thal minor (particularly beta zero) and auto immune diseases?
TIA