Beta Thalassemia Health Article

Prognosis

Prognosis for beta thalassemia is good for individuals diagnosed early and those who receive proper treatment. Children with beta thalassemia major live 20-30 years longer with treatment by blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy.

BOOKS

Bowden, Vicky R., Susan B. Dickey, and Cindy Smith Greenberg. Children and Their Families: The continuum of care. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1998.

"Thalassemias." In Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, Volume 2, edited by Alan E.H. Emery, MD, PhD, and David L. Rimoin, MD, PhD. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1983.

Thompson, M.W., R. R. McInnus, and H. F. Willard. Thompson and Thompson Genetics in Medicine, Fifth Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1991.

PERIODICALS

Angelucci, E., et al. "Hepatic iron concentration and total body iron stores in Thalassemia Major." The New England Journal of Medicine 343, (2000): 327-331.

Mentzer, W. C., et al. "Prospects for research in hematologic disorders: sickle cell and thalassemia." The Journal of The American Medical Association 285 (2001): 640-642.

Olivieri, N. F. "The Beta Thalassemias." The New England Journal of Medicine 341 (1999): 99-109.

Olivieri, N. F. et al. "Treatment of thalassemia major with phenylbuyrate and hydroxyurea." The Lancet 350 (1997): 491-492.

ORGANIZATIONS

Children's Blood Foundation. 333 East 38th St., Room 830, New York, NY 10016-2745. (212) 297-4336. cfg@nyh.med.cornell.edu.

Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Inc. 129-09 26th Ave. #203, Flushing, NY 11354. (800) 522-7222 or (718) 321-2873. <http://www.thalassemia.org>.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. 1275 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605. (888) 663-4637. resourcecenter@modimes.org. <http://www.modimes.org>.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. PO Box 30105, Bethseda, MD 20824-0105. (301) 592-8573. nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov>.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). PO Box 8923, New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923. (203) 746-6518 or (800) 999-6673. Fax: (203) 746-6481. <http://www.rarediseases.org>.

Laith F. Gulli, MD

Tanya Bivens, BS