Thalassemia

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Thalassemia

Alternative Names

Mediterranean anemia; Cooley's anemia

Symptoms

Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Jaundice
Bone deformities in the face

Exams and Tests

Enlarged spleen
Peripheral blood smear shows small, abnormally-shaped red blood cells
Complete blood count shows anemia
Hemoglobin electrophoresis shows abnormal hemoglobin

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

RBC indices (size, hemoglobin content)
Osmotic fragility


Thalassemia major


Thalassemia minor

Review Date: 10/30/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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