COMPLICATIONS OF ALPHA–NTDT

Several things that happen in thalassemia can add up to you getting a dangerous blood clot that lodges in a blood vessel, where it can cause a block in the heart or a stroke in the brain. For patients who do not receive regular transfusions, this can be more common.

Most blood cells are made in the bone marrow (the spongy material inside bones). In patients with thalassemia, it can expand due to increased demand for red blood cells, which causes your bones to widen. This can make your bones thin and brittle, increasing the chance of broken bones.

Gallstones are one of the most prevalent complications. They are a result of the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis), one of the key processes driving thalassemia.

People with thalassemia who receive regular transfusions, as well as those who do not receive regular transfusions, can get too much iron in their bodies either from frequent blood transfusions or the disease.

This means a lot of iron is moving around in the blood. When iron builds up, it collects in places like the heart, liver, and endocrine organs and can make it hard for these organs to work properly.

When iron deposits into the liver, it can lead to fibrosis (scarring of the liver) and cirrhosis (severe scarring, which can prevent proper functioning).

Hormones are chemicals the body produces and uses to regulate almost every organ and function. Due to anemia or iron overload, thalassemia can result in lower production of certain hormones. This can be associated with a number of conditions, including growth delays, delayed puberty, thyroid problems, and diabetes.

This can occur in all types of thalassemia when red blood cells are not produced properly in the bone marrow. This can lead to enlargement of organs such as the spleen and liver.

A type of high blood pressure in the lungs. The breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) can cause it, and so can iron overload.

A “hemolytic crisis” or sudden drop in hemoglobin with signs of red blood cell destruction can occur in people with alpha-thalassemia. This can happen as a result of an infection with high fever.