Professor Mashoor Alam Shah Vice Chancellor Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro addressing at a Seminar on "Genotype of Thalassemia patients as predictor for prognosis and management without Blood Transfusion" expressed that the management of patients with Thalassemia constitutes a heavy burden for affected families and the health care system.
The new discovery will help better understanding of genetics of Thalassemia which will help in planning management strategy for an individual patient. It can improve the quality of life, reduce the transfusion requirement, iron overload in patients and work load of Blood Banks.
Professor Tahir Shamsi, a renowned hematologist while delivering his presentation expressed that the Thalassemia is a blood disorder, passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of haemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen). The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anaemia.
This is one of the most challenging diseases being faced by the mankind with virtually no permanent treatment for those who suffer from it. Professor Saqib Ansari Haematologist expressed that the thalassemia is a diverse group of genetic blood diseases.
Packed red blood cell (PRC) transfusion with iron chelation, despite their undesirable effects, has been the mainstay of treatment for patients with beta-thalassemia major. In the recent past introduction of oral medications that augment Haemoglobin F (HbF) has opened new horizons in the management and prognosis of these patients sparing many of them from the hard times of blood transfusions and related adversities.