Thalassemia > Beta Thalassemia

The most familiar type of thalassemia is beta thalassemia. It involves decreased production of normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A), the predominant type of hemoglobin from soon after birth until death. (All hemoglobin consists of two parts: heme and globin). The globin part of Hb A has 4 protein sections called polypeptide chains. Two of these chains are identical and are designated the alpha chains. The other two chains are also identical to one another but differ from the alpha chains and are termed the beta chains. In persons with beta thalassemia, there is reduced or absent production of beta globin chains.

• Difference between thalassemia minor and major

• What is Mediterranean anemia?

• Genetic pattern of inheritance of beta thalassemia?

• Diagnosis of thalassemia major and minor

• The treatment of thalassemia major

Beta Thalassemia At A Glance

• Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders.

• Thalassemia patients make defective hemoglobin.

• There are two forms of beta thalassemia: thalassemia minor and thalassemia major (also called Cooley's anemia).

• Beta thalassemia is more frequent in people of Italian and Greek origin.