It can cause life threatening heart conditions, such as stroke. Read our, Risk of Severe Outcomes From COVID-19 for People With Thalassemia, Complications of Thalassemia and COVID-19, People Who Have Had a Splenectomy and Transplant Recipients. A 2022 study found that people with beta-thalassemia trait were also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. (2014). Update in laboratory diagnosis of thalassemia. Beta-thalassemia results of a default in the hemoglobin beta- chain synthesis. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help people with beta thalassemia prevent severe disease and death. Thalassemia Benefits - News-Medical.net Anemia can affect your weight, whether due to its impact on your appetite and activity levels or its underlying cause. In a preprint review of studies from late July 2022, researchers examined how beta thalassemia minor affects outcomes of COVID-19. It's currently recommended that people with thalassemia who have severe COVID-19 be given blood thinners, though this could change as more is learned. Sotiriou S, et al. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects your body's ability to produce hemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. What are the risks of having COVID if you have beta thalassemia? Thalassemia Trait (Minor): How Does It Affect You? - Healthline Thalassemia may increase the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19. Six had their spleens removed. But blood tests can only lead doctors to presume that you have the trait. When looking into thalassemia and COVID-19 risk, it's important to identify both the risk of potential exposure and susceptibility. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Sotiriou S, et al. This condition can cause abrupt changes in blood pressure or heart rate that may worsen a person's condition during a COVID-19 infection. According to this systematic-review meta-analysis, beta-thalassemia carriers could be less affected by CO VID-19 than the general population and more susceptible to die from COVID-19 or one of its consequences. In that event, it's advisable that the therapy be stopped until the infection has cleared. National Library of Medicine 2020; 10.1002/ajh.25840 [Epub ahead of print]. IgA is active against several pathogens, including rotavirus, poliovirus, influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Beta Thalassemia in Children - Nationwide Children's Hospital Iron overload due to repeated transfusions is the cause of many complications seen with thalassemia, and therefore many people are treated with iron chelation therapy. "As an individual, you have your blood typethere's nothing you can do about it.". Acta Biomed. (2023). Yes, you can have the trait for both alpha- and beta-thalassemia. Doctors sometimes incorrectly prescribe iron supplements for people with thalassemia trait if they mistake their symptoms for iron deficiency. Clin Lab Med. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. COVID-19 and thalassaemia: A position statement of the - PubMed April 20, 2020. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of anemia. Am J Hematol. ; 4 Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences . sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Most children with moderate to severe thalassemia show signs and symptoms within their first two years of life. Needs T, et al. As a result, our understanding of the connection to blood type continues to evolve. Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus . People with severe forms of beta thalassemia may be at a higher risk of developing severe illness than people in the general population if theyre infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This condition is called anemia. EHA and TIF explore how COVID-19 is affecting thalassemia and SCD patients. These drugs can reduce inflammation in blood vessels (endothelial inflammation) during viral infections. Published 2020 Sep 7. doi:10.23750/abm.v91i3.10063. Those two factors make up the eight most common blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, and AB-. Most hemoglobin is made up of alpha and beta chains. Each one has different subtypes and hence the severity . If youre a silent carrier or have thalassemia minor, youre unlikely to need typical thalassemia treatments, like blood transfusions or iron therapy. In general, people with severe diseases are at a higher risk from COVID-19. 2020;91(3):e2020026. Working with your healthcare team to keep up with thalassemia treatments, getting vaccinated, and monitoring and treating for complications early if COVID-19 symptoms do develop are the recommended strategies to staying healthy through the pandemic. Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, shopping, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Womens Health, Self, Prevention, Forbes, Daily Beast, and more. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources. COVID-19: beta-thalassemia subjects immunised? - Semantic Scholar Alpha thalassemia. APS is an autoimmune disorder that makes your blood clot easily. . -. Iron overload: Frequent transfusions due to thalassemia can cause a build up of iron in the blood, which can, in turn, lead to heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, and other issues.These conditions are linked to poorer COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, the most common side effects in people with thalassemia were: Researchers are still examining how COVID-19 affects people with beta thalassemia. Thalassaemia - NHS Its also the only way to tell if youre a silent carrier. EHA and TIF Explore How COVID-19 Is Affecting Thalassemia and SCD Patients. Severe thalassemia used to be fatal by early adulthood, but now people frequently live into their 60s or beyond. Most cases are caused by a mutation in the HBB gene. The .gov means its official. There are many types of thalassemia. Laboratory diagnosis of thalassemia. Knowledge of your blood type is usually important if you're undergoing a blood transfusion or organ transplantbut in those situations, your medical team will test your blood type beforehand. Thalassemia: Complications and Treatment | CDC Thalassemias | Johns Hopkins Medicine Biochemistry, hemoglobin synthesis. COVID19 in a pregnant patient with betathalassemia major: A case What to Know About Thalassemia and COVID-19. While the research is early and there is much left to be learned, people who have thalassemia (at least some types) may be more susceptible to contracting coronavirus and having a serious outcome. They often share similar symptoms but have different causes as well as different treatments and severity. A protein called the Rh factor can also be present (+) or absent (-) from the blood. Your body produces a variety of different cells that fight invading germs. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. You can still pass on the affected gene, but you wont experience any symptoms. Like in alpha-thalassemia minor, your red blood cells will be smaller, and you may experience mild anemia. Al-Shamsi HO, Alhazzani W, Alhuraiji A, Coomes EA, Chemaly RF, Almuhanna M, Wolff RA, Ibrahim NK, Chua MLK, Hotte SJ, Meyers BM, Elfiki T, Curigliano G, Eng C, Grothey A, Xie C. Oncologist. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination for people with beta-thalassemia or beta-thalassemia trait. Many times people with thalassemia are prescribed a supplemental B vitamin, known as folic acid, to help treat anemia. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing part of your red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen throughout your body. A 2014 Chinese study found that 17.8% of people with beta-thalassemia trait also had genetic mutations that affected the alpha gene. The researchers found that people with beta thalassemia minor had: However, the researchers didnt find statistical significance for any of these parameters, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the study. (2016). In order to better describe the frequency and manifestations of COVID-19 in thalassemia patients living in France, we report the cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection that occurred during the year 2020. In particular, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. People with thalassemia trait dont usually have symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to blood bank shortages, which have created challenges for people with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. As an example, on March 17, 2020, the Red Cross announced that their blood reserves were reduced by around 80% in the United States due to canceled donations and reduced distribution. Other types of thalassemia cause more severe symptoms that can be found earlier in life, usually before a child is . For those who develop COVID-19, doctors should be aware of this increased risk of a secondary bacterial infection so that antibiotics can be started early with any signs, such as a fever. doi:10.1002/ajh.25857, NGO A, Masel D, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaiie MA. Frequency of COVID-19 Antibodies in Patients With Hereditary Jason DelCollo, DO, is a board-certified medicine physician and associate faculty member at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. COVID Increases Risk of Long-Term Brain Injury, Study Shows, COVID Tongue: How a Swollen Tongue Could Indicate COVID-19, Even Mild COVID-19 Infections Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Research Shows, CDC Adds Mental Health Conditions to High-risk of Severe Illness From COVID List, COVID-19 Pneumoniathe Lung Infection Caused by Getting COVID-19, Does Sunlight Kill COVID-19 and Does Vitamin D Prevent It? By. World Health Organization (WHO) . Torti L, Sorrentino F, Maffei L, De Fabritiis P, Abruzzese E. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. Sadly, the reduction in the blood supply has led many people with thalassemia to receive fewer transfusions than usual, prompting healthcare providers caring for people with the condition to look for options that may reduce the need for or frequency of transfusions. A simple blood test could let a doctor know if you have alpha- or beta-thalassemia minor. What is Thalassemia? | CDC The present statement summarizes the key challenges concerning the management of haemoglobinopathies, with particular focus on patients with either transfusion-dependent or non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia, identifies the gaps in knowledge and suggests measures and strategies to deal with the pandemic, based on available evidence and expert opinions. To begin, think of something you've had time to do that you'd otherwise not have time for, or something you learned. COVID-19 in benign hematology: emerging challenges and special considerations for healthcare professionals. Nutrition. It is caused by genetic defects that control the production of hemoglobin. 2021;16(1):114.doi:10.1186/s13023-021-01757-w. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The immune systems of more than 95% of people who recovered from COVID-19 had durable memories of the virus up to eight months after infection. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. Learn more. While it's always helpful to know your blood type, most people won't necessarily need to know that information. You inherit two copies of this gene one from each parent. While there are no specific guidelines at this time, some researchers believe that hemoglobin levels should be monitored closely in people with thalassemia if they develop COVID-19, even when symptoms are only mild. It is possible to have both alpha- and beta-thalassemia.