Do both parents need to be carriers for alpha thalassemia?

Alpha thalassemia major (ATM or “hydrops fetalis”) happens when a developing baby has no working alpha genes. Both parents must carry alpha thalassemia trait to be at-risk for a baby with ATM. This condition causes fetal death if untreated. ATM may also cause serious pregnancy problems and could lead to maternal death.

What if both parents have thalassemia?

If both parents have the beta thalassaemia trait, there’s a: 1 in 4 chance each child they have will not inherit any faulty genes and will not have thalassaemia or be able to pass it on. 1 in 2 chance each child they have will just inherit a copy of the faulty gene from 1 parent and be a carrier.

What happens if only one parent has thalassemia?

If only one of your parents is a carrier for thalassemia, you may develop a form of the disease known as thalassemia minor. If this occurs, you probably won’t have symptoms, but you’ll be a carrier. Some people with thalassemia minor do develop minor symptoms.

Does alpha thalassemia run in families?

Who is at risk for alpha thalassemia? This is a genetic disease inherited from one or both parents. The only risk factor is having a family history of the disease.

What if one parent is a carrier for alpha thalassemia?

What if one parent has alpha thalassemia trait and the other parent is a silent carrier? If one parent has the cis form of alpha thalassemia trait (αα/–), and the other parent is a silent carrier (αα/α-), there is a 25 percent (1 in 4) chance with each pregnancy of having a child with hemoglobin H disease.

What happens if both parents are silent carriers of alpha thalassemia?

If both parents have the trans form of alpha thalas- semia trait (α-/α-), all of their children will have alpha thalassemia trait. Alpha thalassemia trait normally does not cause any health problems. – People with alpha thalassemia trait can have small red blood cells and a low red blood cell count (mild anemia).

Can I marry someone with thalassemia?

Thalassemia, related to the reduction in red blood cells, is rapidly increasing in India forcing doctors to make a fervent appeal for improved awareness and preventive measures at primary and social levels. No two Thalassemia minor patients should be allowed to marry.

Is it safe to have a baby with thalassemia?

Pregnancy in thalassemia should be considered a high risk for both mother and fetus, and favorable outcomes are the result of continuous preconception, antenatal, and postpartum assessment and management by a team of thalassemia experts.

Can thalassemia parents have baby?

Yes, but you may need help getting pregnant. Often, women with beta thalassemia will need to use medications to help them ovulate in order to become pregnant. Many health problems caused by beta thalassemia have to do with too much iron in your body.

Who is at risk for alpha thalassemia?

A baby born without all four genes is very rare. Alpha thalassemia is one of the most common blood disorders in the world. Anyone can have alpha thalassemia. Thousands of infants are born with alpha thalassemia trait or hemoglobin H disease each year, but it is most common in Southeast Asia.

Can you have both alpha and beta thalassemia?

EXPERTS MAKE THE CALL. Your patient indeed has both beta and alpha thalassemia. The high A2 and F in the presence of microcytosis confirm the presence of beta thalassemia trait (possibly deletional–beta thalassemia since both A2 and F are high).

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