Alpha Thalassemia (cont.)
Beta Thalassemias
Two genes (one from each parent) are needed to make enough beta globin
protein chains. If one or both of these genes are altered, you will have beta
thalassemia. This means that you don't make enough beta globin protein.
If you have one altered gene, you're a carrier. This condition is called beta
thalassemia trait or beta thalassemia minor. It causes mild anemia.
If both genes are altered, you will have beta thalassemia intermedia or beta
thalassemia major (also called Cooley's anemia). The intermedia form of the
disorder causes moderate anemia. The major form causes severe anemia.
Inheritance Pattern for Beta Thalassemia
The diagram shows one example of how beta thalassemia is inherited. The beta
globin gene is located on chromosome 11. A child inherits two beta globin
genes—one from each parent. In this example, each parent has one altered beta
globin gene.
Therefore, each child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting two normal genes
(no anemia), a 50 percent chance of inheriting one altered gene and one normal
gene (beta thalassemia trait), or a 25 percent chance of inheriting two altered
genes (beta thalassemia major).
Who Is At Risk for Thalassemias?
Family history and ancestry are the two risk factors for thalassemias.
Family History
Thalassemias are inherited, which means they're passed on from parents to
their children. If your parents have missing or altered hemoglobin-making genes,
you may have a thalassemia.
Ancestry
Alpha thalassemias most often affect people of Southeast Asian, Indian,
Chinese, or Filipino origin or ancestry.
Beta thalassemias most often affect people of Mediterranean (Greek, Italian,
and Middle Eastern), Asian, or African origin or ancestry.
Next: What are the signs and symptoms of thalassemias? »
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