9. GENETIC TYPES OF THALASSEMIA :
There are two basic groups of thalassemia.
Alpha ( )Thalassemia
In alpha-thalassemia, the alpha genes are deleted;
loss of one gene (α-/α) or both genes (α-/α-) from each
chromosome 16 may occur, in association with the
production of some or no alpha globin chains
Beta ( )Thalassemia
In beta-thalassemia defective production usually
results from disabling point mutations causing no (β0) or
reduced (β-) beta chain production.
11. EPIDEMIOLOGY
Recent data indicate that about 7% of the world
population is carrier of hemoglobin disorder.
About 100,000 children are born every year world
over with the homozygous state for thalassemia.
12. EPIDEMIOLOGY IN INDIA
In India prevalence of this gene varies 1-17 %
There are around 65,000 - 67,000 thalassemia patients
in our country
Common in certain Communities like sindhis, punjabis,
khatris, khukrajas, bhanushalies, baniyas, lohanas, kuchies,
mahars, kolies, agries, goudas, lingayats
13. Classification
β thalassemia α thalassemia Misc thalassemia
syndrome
T. Major Hydropes fetais HbS- thal
T. Intermedia Hbh disase HbE- thal
T. Trait A-thalassemia trait HbD-thal
T. Minima A-b-thal
HPHF
Y-Thal,
d-thal
15. GENETIC BASIS OF ALPHA THALASSEMIA
Encoding genes on chromosome 16 (short arm)
Each cell has 4 copies of the alpha globin gene
Each gene responsible for ¼ production of alpha globin
4 possible mutation states:
Loss of ONE gene silent carrier
Loss of TWO genes thalassemia minor (trait)
Loss of THREE genes Hemoglobin H
Accumulation of beta chains
Association of beta chains in groups of 4 Hemoglobin H
Loss of FOUR genes Hemoglobin Barts
NO alpha chains produced ∴only gamma chains present
Association of 4 gamma chains Hemoglobin Barts
16. CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF ALPHA THALASSEMIA
Silent Carriers
Asymptomatic
“Normal”
Alpha Thalassemia trait
• no anemia /mild anemia
• microcytosis
-unusually small red blood cells due to fewer Hb in
RBC
17. CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF ALPHA THALASSEMIA
Hb H disease
• microcytosis & hemolysis (breakdown of RBC)
- results in severe anemia
• bone deformities
• splenomegaly (enlargement of spleen)
• “severe and life threatening”
• Golf ball inclusions on microscopy
Bart’s Hydrops fetalis
• Hb Bart‟s
• fatal hydrops fetalis
- fluid build-up in fetal compartments, leads to death
occurs in utero
18. BETA THALASSEMIA
Beta Thalassemia: deficient/absent beta
subunits
Commonly found in Mediterranean, Middle
East, Asia, and Africa
Three types:
Minor
Intermedia
Major (COOLEY ANEMIA)
asymptomatic at birth as HbF functions
19. GENETIC BASIS OF BETA THALASSEMIA
Encoding genes on chromosome 11 (short arm)
Each cell contains 2 copies of beta globin gene
beta globin protein level = alpha globin protein level
Suppression of gene more likely than deletion
2 mutations: beta-+-thal / beta-0-thal
“Loss” of ONE gene thalassemia minor (trait)
“Loss” of BOTH gene complex picture
2 beta-+-thal thalassemia intermedia / thalassemia
major
2 beta-0-thal thalassemia major
Excess of alpha globin chains
20. CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF BETA THALASSEMIA
Beta Thalassemia minor (trait)
• asymptomatic
• microcytosis
• minor anemia
• Elevated HbA2 >3.4%
Beta Thalassemia intermedia .
• symptoms similar to Cooley Anemia but less
severe
21. Beta Thalassemia major (Cooley Anemia)
• most severe form
• moderate to severe anemia
• intramedullary hemolysis (RBC die before full development)
• peripheral hemolysis & splenomegaly
• skeletal abnormalities (overcompensation by bone
marrow)
• congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension
22. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Disturbance of ratio between Alpha & non
alpha globin chain synthesis then absent or
decrease production of one or more globin
chains
Formation of abnormal Hb structures
Ineffective erythropoiesis
Excessive RBCs Destruction
Iron Overload
Extra-medullary hematopoiesis
24. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Beta Thalassaemia Minor :
Usually no signs or symptoms
except for a mild persistent anemia not responding
to hematinics.
BetaThalassaemia Major : manifests after 6 months
1. Pallor- fatigue, irritability
2. Growth retardation.
3. Recurrent infections
4. Bony abnormalities specially of the facial
bones,hemolytic facies, caput quadtratum
5. Enlarged spleen and liver.
6. Delayed sexual development
7. Features of complications .
25. THALASSEMIA COMPLICATIONS
Complications can be grouped as
(1) transfusion-transmitted infections,
(2) transfusional iron overload,
(3) toxicities of iron chelation therapy, and
(4) bacterial infections
26. COMPLICTIONS ..CONT..
Cardiac complications
Liver complications
Endocrine complications
Bone complications
Other complications
Infections: yersinia,parvovirus B19
Dental Complications
Growth retardation
Leg ulcers
27. CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS
Cardiac dysfunction(both systolic and diastolic
dysfuction)
Arrhythmias
Ferritin greater than 2500 mg/L or a liver iron
concentration > 15 mg Fe/g dry weight is
associated with high risk of cardiac death in
thalassemia
28. CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS CONT..
Monitoring: 6 monthly cardiac physical examination,
cardiac function yearly starting at age of 10 years, if
history suggestive of arrhythmias ECG, 24-hour
Holter monitoring should be done.
Chelation therapy to reduce high iron load lowers
the likelihood of developing cardiac dysfunction
29. LIVER COMPLICATIONS
includes- transfusion-related viral hepatitis
(Hepatitis B, C), iron overload, drug toxicity, and
biliary disease due to gallstones.
Liver enzymes should be monitored routinely.
Liver iron concentration should be monitored
routinely and chelation therapy initiated and
adjusted to reduce complications of iron overload.
In the presence of elevated liver iron, liver fibrosis,
and cirrhosis may be accelerated by alcohol, liver-
toxic drugs, and untreated viral hepatitis, Limit such
exposure.
30. ENDOCRINE COMPLICATIONS
Iron overload is responsible for dysfunction of many
of endocrine glands like thyroid, parathyroid
pituitary gland, gonads and pancreas.
These include-
short stature (34%),
delayed puberty, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (35
– 55%),
hypothyroidism (10%),
hypoparathyroidism (4%), and
diabetes mellitus (5.6 – 20%)
31. BONE COMPLICATIONS
Bone disorders are common and multifactorial in
patients with thalassemia .
Related to inadequate transfusion, iron-overload,
over-chelation, and other endocrine factors
contribute to the development of osteopenia and
osteoporosis
Interventions:
Adequate blood transfusions
Adequate chelation therapy should be maintained
No Over-chelation
Hormone replacement therapy
Calcitonin,bisphosphonates
Diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
32. HYPERSPLENISM- SPLENECTOMY
Indictions of splenectomy
An increase in the yearly requirement of packed cells
more than 1.5 times the basal requirement, i.e. packed
cell 200 to 220 cc per kg/ year.
Massive splenic enlargement posing risk of splenic
rupture, or when it is associated with left upper
quadrant pain or erly satiety
Presence of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia due to
hypersplenism
Splenectomy should be delayed till the patient is 5
years of age as there is risk of overwhleming sepsis
below this age
33. Risk of post-splenectomy serious infections can be
reduced by:
Immunization against pneumococcal, meningococcal,
and Hib and salmonella typhi infection atleast 3 weeks
before splenectomy
Chemoprophylaxis with oral penicillin,
125 mg twice daily for children upto 2 years
250 mg twice daily for children 2 years and above
Post splenectomy there may be transient or
persistent thrombocytosis. Aspirin 50-100 mg/day
for patients if platelet count >8,00,000/mm3
34. IMMUNIZATION PRIOR TO SPLENECTOMY
Pneumcoccal vaccine. 0.5 ml SC
Meningococcal vaccine:
Quadravalent meningococcal (Menactra) 0.5
mL IM upper deltoid.
Haemophilus b conjugate : One dose
35. CAUSES OF DEATH
Congestive heart failure
Arrhythmia
Sepsis secondary to increased susceptability to
infection post spleenectomy
Multiorgan failure due to hemochromatosis
36. THALASSEMIA FACIAL BONE
ABNORMALITIES.
These changes include:
Bossing of the skull
Hypertrophy of the maxilla,
exposing the upper teeth
Depression of nasal bridge
Periorbital puffiness
THALASSEMIA MAJOR
LEG ULCER
Leg ulcers can occur in all
types of hereditary hemolytic
anemias, including sickle cell
disease and hereditary
spherocytosis.
38. THALASSEMIA
BONE
ABNORMALITIES
Note the “hair on end”
appearance of the
cortical bone caused
by expansion of the
bone marrow.
The subperiosteal
bone grows in
radiating striations,
which appears as
“hairs.”
41. Complete Blood Count (CBC) with red cell
indices and Peripheral Blood Film (PBF)
Examination and reticulocyte count.
Hb low, total RBC count and Hct decreased
Thalassemics have uniform microcytosis with
out increase in RDW
PS of Thalassemia Child
Characteristic bizarre picture of red cells, which
are microcytic, hypochromic, with poikilocytosis,
polychromasia, moderate basophilic stippling, and
fragmented erythrocytes, target cells, and large
number of normoblasts
42. The baseline serum ferritin and liver enzymes
including ALT,AST, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase
(LDH) should be measured.
Serologic testing for hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV
should be performed as baseline measures.
All first-degree family members should undergo
HLA-typing, if potential future allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cell transplant is considered an
option.
44. LAB DIAGNOSIS
Osmotic fragility test : decreased
Urinary urobilinogen: increased (Ehrlich test)
Stool examination: dark stools, increased
stercobilinogen.
Radiological changes: seen after 1 year
X-ray of metacarpals,ribs, vertebra show thinning of cortex
X-ray of skull shows “hair on end appearance”
Generalised skeletal osteoporosis
45. MANAGEMENT OF THALASSEMIA MAJOR
Comprehensive management includes the
following:
• Confirmation of the diagnosis
• Correction of anemia– Packed red cell transfusions
• Removal of excess iron– Chelation Therapy
• Management of complications – Endocrine and
Cardiac complications
• Pharmacological methods to increase gamma chain
synthesis
• Supportive care
• Curative Treatment– Stem Cell Transplantation
• Future treatment– Gene replacement therapy.
46. TRANSFUSION THERAPY IN
THALASSEMIA
Transfusion therapy in thalassemia has
two goals:
• To prevent anemia
• To suppress endogenous erythropoiesis
Regular Blood Transfusions are Presently the
Mainstay of Treatment of Thalassemia Major
47. TRANSFUSION PROTOCOLS
Palliative– Pretransfusion - Hb level is around < 7 gm%
and mean Hb maintained is < 8.5 gm/dl.
Hyper Transfusion– Pretransfusion Hb level is
around > 10gm% and mean Hb. Maintained is > 12
gm%.
Super Transfusion– Pretransfusion Hb level is
around > 12gm% and mean Hb. Maintained is
>14gm%.
Moderate– Transfusion- Pretransfusion- Hb level is
around 9-10.5 gm% and mean Hb. Maintained is >12gm
%.
Current recommendation?
48. TYPE OF TRANSFUSION
Leuko-reduced packed red cell transfusion
is desired type of blood for thalassemic children
Reduction of leukocytes to 5000000 is considered
adequate.(reduced by 70%)
It helps in prevention of transfusion reactions
49. BENEFITS OF BLOOD TRANFUSION-
THALASSEMIA
Improves tissue oxygenation, and
prevents chronic
hypoxia
Improves normal growth and
development
Prevents erythropoiesis thus avoiding
expansion of the bone marrow and extra
medullary erythropoiesis
Reduces hemolytic facies
Reduces hepatosplenomegaly and
cardiomyopathy
Reduces gastro-intestinal absorption of
iron.
50. WHEN TO START THE TRANSFUSION
Blood transfusion is started as soon as diagnosis
firmly established (Except in children > 18 months of
age).
If age is > 18 months, these children are observed to r/o
Thalassemia Intermedia and if Hb drops < 7 gms%,
regular transfusion started.
The most ideal way to transfuse thalassemics is using
group and type specific saline washed packed red
cells (HCT - 65 to 75%) that are compatible by direct
antiglobulin test (Coomb‟s crossmatched)
51. COMPLICATIONS OF TRANSFUSION
NHFTR (Non hemolytic febrile transfusion reaction)
Allergic reactions
Acute hemolytic reactions
Delayed hemolytic reactions
TRALI-transfusion related acute lung injury
TACO- transfusion associated circulatory overload
Alloimmunizaton.
Transfusion transmitted infections
Iron overload
Steps to Prevent These Infections Include
Screening of blood products.
All thalassemic children should recieve hepatitis
vaccination if not previously immunised
Leukodepletion can minimize CMV infection
52. IRON OVERLOAD AND CHELATION THERAPY
Iron Overload Occurs in Thalassemic Patients
due to
Treatment with multiple transfusions
Ineffective erythropoiesis
Excessive dietary absorption of iron from gut, to
compensate the large turnover of red cell mass
Lack of physiologic excretory mechanism for the
excess iron
The goal of iron chelation is to reduce the iron
store and subsequently maintain at low level
(sr.ferritin less than 1000ng/ml).
53. INITIATION OF CHELATION THERAPY
Serum ferritin >1000ng/dl
Patient has received 15-20 transfusions
Hepatic iron concentration exceeds 3.2mg/ g dry
weight
54. CHELATING AGENTS
Deferoxamine(DFO)
Route:SC/IV
Dose: 25-50 mg/kg/day
Schedule: over 8 to 10 hrs for 5-6 nights a week with the
help of subcutaneous desferal infusion pump
MOA:chelates loosely bound iron, iron from
ferritin,hemosiderin ,not from transferrin
Excretion :Urine(80%,urine red)/Feces
Plasma clearance t1/2: 20 minutes
Adverse effects Local skin reaction, ototoxicity, infections
,ophthalmic toxicity, skeletal impairment
Monitoring Long bone films in growing children, annual
eye and ear check-up
55. CONSIDERATION OF AGGRESSIVE CHELATION
THERAPY
Severe iron over load
Persistently very high ferritin value
Liver iron >15mg/ g dry weight
Significant cardiac disease
Cardiac arrhythmias
Evidence of falling left ventricular function
Evidence of very severe heart iron loading(MRI T2* <6
ms)
Prior to bone marrow transplantation when rapid
reversal of iron loading may be desirable
tab Vitamin C 1hr prior to infusion .
56. Deferipone(Kelfer)
It mobilizes iron from transferrin, ferritin, and
hemosiderin.
Dose: 75 to 100 mg/kg body weight/day in
three to four divided doses
Excretion:Urine
Plasma clearance t1/2:53-166 minutes
Adverse effects: Agranulocytosis, GIT
disturbances,transaminase elevation,
arthralgias
Monitoring:Weekly CBC
57. DEFERIPONE ..CONT
Drug should be discontinued whenever
Total count drops to < 3000/mm 3
Absolute neutophil count drops to < 1000/mm 3
Zinc deficiency may develop, zinc supplementation
may be necessary
It should be first line drug for patients not receiving
DFO because of high cost, toxicity or poor
compliance of the later.
58. Deferasirox (exjade)
A novel chelating agent belongs to tridentate tiazole,with
high affinity to iron as Fe+++ and chelates at a ratio of
2:1 (Deferasirox: Iron).
Dose :20-30 mg/kg/day
Schedule: daily ,OD
Excretion:Feces
Plasma clearance t1/2:1-16 hours
It should be given approximately same time each day on
an empty stomach 30 minutes prior to food. Tablet
should be dispersed in water/orange /apple juice.
It is available as 250/500 mg tablet for oral suspension
dispersible tablets
Monitoring:Monthly RFT, LFT and urine analysis
Side effects: GI disturbances , rash, renal dysfunction
59. MANIPULATION OF HBF SWITCHING
Hydroxyurea
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Butyric AcidAnalogs
5-azacytidine,( risk of cancer –not used now)
Erythropoietin has been tried to induce HbF
production with varying success
60. STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION
This is only the curative therapy available today.
Sources of stem cells:Bone Marrow, Peripheral
Blood, Cord Blood,Fetal Liver.
Though expensive, it is cost effective as compared
to yearly cost of regular blood transfusion and
chelation therapy.
cost 8-10 lakhs.
Umblical cord stem cells have good results(lower
GVHD, longer engraftment)
61. GENE THERAPY
Lenti Viral vector derived from Human Immunodeficiency
Virus, where a large fragment of human beta gene and its
locus control region, have been introduced, though
experimental, more effectiv therapies will become
available near future to cure the disease.
62. PREVENTION OF THALASSEMIA-CARRIER
SCREENING
Thalassemia minor or carrier state can be easily
detected in a person by doing simple blood test HbA2 by
hemoglobin electrophoresis or variant machine or
column chromatography
Prevention includes population education, mass
screening, genetic counseling and antenatal diagnosis
and therapeutic abortion of affected pregnancy
Carrier detection:The only confirmatory test is HbA2
estimation.
Toconduct an effective mass screening program, the
targeted population should belong to the premarital and
newly married groups, i.e. before they have begun their
families.
63. ANTENATAL DIAGNOSIS
When both partners, who are thalassemia minors, plan to
have their baby, they are told to report to their hematologist as
soon as possible after pregnancy is confirmed.
Chorionic villous sampling (CVS) done between 9th and 11th
week of pregnancy.
amniocentesis or cordocentesis-16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Test result:
‘Affected‟ which means the fetus has thalassemia
major, or
„Unaffected‟ meaning that the fetus is either
thalassemia minor or normal.
Affected fetuses are advised to be terminated and
unaffected fetuses to be continued