Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. Learn about the signs, how it’s diagnosed & treated. β thalassemia minor is caused by a β/β o or β/β + genotype. Beta thalassemia minor is usually without clinical significance. In people with beta thalassemia, low levels of hemoglobin lead to a lack of oxygen in many parts of the body. BETA THALASSEMIA: In beta thalassemia, the heterozygous state (called thalassemia minor) is accompanied by no symptoms or at most by very mild anemia. This is sometimes referred to as "the rule of threes." This condition is called beta thalassemia trait (also called beta thalassemia minor) and can cause mild anemia. The homozygous form of beta thalassemia (thalassemia major) is not immediately lethal because there is some production of Hb F, which does not contain beta chains. Many times people with thalassemia are prescribed a supplemental B vitamin, known as folic acid, to help treat anemia. Folic … Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that impacts the ability of the blood to get oxygen to the body’s organs. Beta thalassemia major, the homozygous state when the gene is inherited from both parents, is characterized by hemolytic anemia (i.e., early breakdown of red blood cells). Beta thalassemia most often occurs in people of Mediterranean origin. Different forms of beta thalassemia occur if one or more of these genes are altered: If one gene is altered—a person is a “silent” carrier of beta thalassemia. If you have mild anemia, folic acid supplements can help. If the synthesis from both genes … Beta-thalassemia results of a default in the hemoglobin beta-chain synthesis. Beta thalassemia is a recessive genetic disorder of hemoglobin structure. Beta Thalassemia Minor (or Thalassemia Minor), a rare genetic blood disorder, is a defect in the synthesis of beta chains of hemoglobin (a protein that carries oxygen to the tissues). The one gene defect, beta thalassemia trait (minor), is asymptomatic and results in microcytosis and mild anemia. Only one of the two β globin alleles contains a mutation, so β chain production is not terribly compromised and patients may be relatively asymptomatic. 1,5% global population are heterozygotes for this disease. People with thalassemia minor or trait usually do not need blood transfusions because they either do not have anemia or have only a mild anemia. Unlike Thalassemia Major, Thalassemia Minor has only one defective beta globin gene If one parent has beta thalassemia trait and the other parent has normal hemoglobin A, there is a 50 percent (1 in 2) chance with each pregnancy of having a child with beta thalassemia trait . You or your child may not need treatment. Beta thalassemia trait is also known as beta thalassemia minor. Beta thalassemia is a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin. 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