Management of Thalassemia Major
The optimal current management of thalassemia major children is lifelong transfusion and iron chelation and needs to be meticulous in order to reduce complications. The only cure for thalassemia major is a bone marrow transplant, more appropriately called Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
The management outline:
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Blood transfusion therapy with packed red blood cells (pRBCs)
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Iron Chelation for iron overload
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Monitoring of complications due to the disease and their treatment
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Management of complications (endocrine, cardiac, skeletal etc)
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Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) / Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)
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Psychological support
For reference:
NHM Guidelines on Hemoglobinopathies in India (2016)
TIF (2021) Guidelines for the Management of Transfusion Dependant Thalassemia (TDT)
About Thalassemia
Guidelines for the Management of Beta- Thalassemia (2021)