Beta thalassemia

Beta thalassemia is an inherited disease characterized by mild to severe anemia, poor growth, enlargement of the spleen, and skeletal changes. It involves a deficiency of one of the components of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood. Soon after birth, the majority of hemoglobin is comprised of iron and four globin chains, two alpha-globin and two beta-globin chains. Symptoms of beta thalassemia are due to reduced production of the beta-globin chains (b+) or no production of beta-globin chains (b0). This, in turn, results in decreased hemoglobin levels which causes anemia and other associated health problems. Beta thalassemia is also known as Cooley’s anemia and Mediterranean anemia. View testing options