May 8 marks Thalassemia Day and it is estimated that nearly one lakh Indians suffer from this dreaded disease with more than 8000 thalassemic births recorded every year in India.
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder wherein the patient has to undergo repeated blood transfusions as the body cannot produce enough haemoglobin. Problems of a thalassemic’s family are compounded by the fact that repeated blood transfusions leads to accumulation of excessive iron in the heart, liver and other vital organs causing an “iron overload”.
Nearly 6 percent of the Indian population are T-minor carriers of the thalassemia gene defect. The only precaution that T minors with this genetic defect need to take is not marrying another T minor so that their progeny is not born a T major and is protected from this disease. Bone marrow treatment and stem cell replacement are two alternative therapies that are also being explored but the costs are prohibitive.
This brings a though to the mind. Is it time for all of us in the blood bank community to ponder if screening of blood donors for thalassemia can be achieved? If yes, will it help reduce the spread of this killer disease?