If you have potential symptoms of beta thalassemia, a doctor may order a blood test to look for signs of the disease. "All may acquire COVID-19 and all should take the recommended precautions to reduce the risk.". 2020;95(8):E208-E210. These transplants should proceed. 2020;91(3):e2020026. A person with beta thalassemia minor . "People with type O blood may be more susceptible to norovirus," said infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! Genetic testing is the only way to confirm whether you carry the gene. 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. Only one gene is damaged. In fact, some people prefer being able to communicate with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their own home. It's also helpful to know your blood typespecifically the Rh factorduring pregnancy, so your doctor can troubleshoot if the unborn baby has a different Rh factor. Respiratory failure may occur just as with people who do not have thalassemia. The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a lot of burden on healthcare . 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. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the 2020;108:154260.doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154260, Leblanc JF, Germain M, Delage G, et al. COVID-19 and thalassemia: Frequently asked questions. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your doctor can address any particular concerns you may have. But, overall, the link between blood type, genes, and infection risk is a growing area of research. Thalassemia may cause you to experience anemia-like symptoms that range from mild to severe. Beta-thalassemia trait is less common. We avoid using tertiary references. Sotiriou S, et al. Learn more about beta-thalassemia trait and pregnancy. It's not known whether blood clots with COVID-19 are more common among people with thalassemia, but healthcare providers should be aware of this potential risk. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that impairs the production of hemoglobin. doi:10.23750/abm.v91i3.10155, De Sanctis VD, Canatan D, Corrons JLV, et al. A 2014 Chinese study found that 17.8% of people with beta-thalassemia trait also had genetic mutations that affected the alpha gene. In fact, some medications used for thalassemia may actually be helpful. Doctors and researchers have looked at the evidence. 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. Hemoglobin allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen to other cells throughout your body. See additional information. Alpha-thalassemia occurs when your body has trouble producing hemoglobin alpha. If you only receive the gene from one parent, you carry the trait for thalassemia. In particular, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. That means your genetic sex (based on which sex chromosomes you have) doesnt influence whether you inherit the condition. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. There are three types of thalassemia, one is minor and the other two Alpha and Beta thalassemia are a major threat to health of a person. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal And while some people develop more severe forms of COVID-19, others develop mild or no symptoms. (2022). Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. How Might Swollen Glands Be a Sign of COVID-19? A 2022 study found that people with beta-thalassemia trait were also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. Recessive means that you need two copies of the faulty gene to have the disease. (Source: File Photo) For almost a week now, Delhi resident Komal Mehta has been making frantic calls for O-negative blood for her 16-year-old son, a thalassemia major, who requires a blood transfusion every 21 days.While his blood transfusion of two units was to take place on March 13, Mehta has not been able to . Beta thalassemia. A protein called the Rh factor can also be present (+) or absent (-) from the blood. Its severity varies greatly between people. People with beta thalassemia minor can have anemia so mild they dont know they have it. Mark S. Lesney. The .gov means its official. Dr. DelCollo is board-certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. Although epidemiologic evidence concerning the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in these patients is currently lacking, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant challenge for haemoglobinopathy patients, their families and their attending physicians. An official website of the United States government. Future Sci OA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with thalassemia may be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. There are a number of factors that might increase the chances of a person with thalassemia being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. This may cause you to experience mild anemia. Yet, no matter how difficult the trial, there are often positive points. hypoxic effect of anaemia in COVID-19 . If you're pregnant and heterozygous for beta-thalassemia, you may not need treatment, but there are still some things to consider for a healthy. FOIA At this point in time, there does not appear to be any relationship between blood type and COVID-19related severity of illness or mortality.". If your MCV is too low, they may order further blood tests to check for thalassemia trait. "There is no real benefit for the individual person," said Torben Barington, DMSc, a clinical professor of immunology at the University of Southern Denmark and co-author of the early Danish study. 2020;91(3):e2020007. Quite a bit of research has been published on the topic of blood type and its role in determining COVID-19 risk. Thalassemia: Complications & treatment. There are four types of alpha thalassemia, and two main types of beta thalassemia. (Note: The overall mortality rate for COVID-19 is currently less than 1%.). 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. doi: 10.4084/MJHID.2023.007. Kakkar S, et al. When a population has people with pre-existing immunity, as the T cell studies may be indicating is the case, the herd immunity threshold based on an R 0 of 2.5 can be reduced from 60% of a population getting infected right down to 10%, depending on the quantity and distribution of pre-existing immunity among people, Gupta's group calculated. Drouin E, et al. In some cases, the inherited mutation can cause the HBB gene to be absent. (2022). Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. But some researchers believe it may, based on the primarily mild symptoms of COVID-19 in people with thalassemia found in a study out of Southeast Asia. It can cause life threatening heart conditions, such as stroke. 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. (2022). People with beta thalassemia may be at a higher risk of developing severe disease or death, but studies are . The study found that patients with blood types A and AB were found to be more likely to require mechanical ventilation and to require dialysis for kidney failure. While the link between blood type and COVID-19 risk is still unclear, it's important to note that there have been links between blood type and diseases in the past. Thalassemia results from an affected gene that causes the problem with hemoglobin. Early in the pandemic, two studies published in the Blood Advances journal in October 2020 showed a possible link between blood type and vulnerability to COVID-19. Thalassaemia is the name for a group of inherited conditions that affect a substance in the blood called haemoglobin. 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. 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. (2022). (2022). Some research suggests that people with beta thalassemia may be at an elevated risk of developing severe illness or death from COVID-19, but research is still mixed. There are two damaged genes. SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with -thalassemia: The French experience. Some research findings have suggested that people with blood types A and AB are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, while those with blood type O are less likely to test positive for the virus. Nutrition. People who are moderate to severely immunocompromised may need additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to stay protected. Beta-Thalassemia Minor and SARS-CoV-2: Physiopathology, Prevalence, Severity, Morbidity, and Mortality. 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? 2020;95(8):E198-E199. Summary document for interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized or approved in the United States. Thalassemias. Thalassemia is a medical condition in which the body makes less hemoglobin than usual. In a 2021 pilot study, researchers found a strong association between the presence of beta thalassemia minor and COVID-19 mortality. Two recently published studies have found that people who recover from COVID-19 develop antibodies that may last almost a year. As a whole, experts recommend that peopleregardless of blood typekeep following CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Expert Rev Hematol. In late 2020, a team of researchers in the United States and Europe succeeded for the first time in using CRISPR to treat 10 people with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. -. People with thalassaemia produce either no or too little haemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. Facial Presentation in People with Beta-Thalassemia Major, The Hidden Signs You May Have a Red Meat Allergy From a Tick Bite, Alpha Thalassemia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More, Alopecia Areata and Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid. Adrenal insufficiency (a lack of sufficient hormone production by the adrenal glands) can occur with thalassemia. 2020 Sep 25;15(1):265. doi: 10.1186/s13023-020-01543-0. People with thalassemia often experience similar COVID-19 complications as those without thalassemia, but they may be at greater risk for certain problems. There has also been a shortage at other steps in the process, such as personnel available to perform collections, as well as process and deliver donated blood. Differences in how people have reacted to COVID-19and whyhave occupied researchers throughout the pandemic. Int J Mol Sci. A simple blood test could let a doctor know if you have alpha- or beta-thalassemia minor. Beta thalassemia major often needs to be treated with regular blood transfusions. Learn more about its symptoms and how it's diagnosed. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Beta-thalassemia is widespread in the world but is a rare disease in France with an estimated prevalence of 12 per 1,000,000 for severe forms. Commentary: Could iron chelators prove to be useful as an adjunct to COVID-19 Treatment Regimens? 2020;60(12):3046-3054.doi:10.1111/trf.16056, d'argon A, Putri MG, Savitri Y, Alfaidin AMR. Am J Hematol. People with beta thalassemia may be immunosuppressed if they have impairment of spleen function or had their spleen removed. Epub 2020 Sep 15. Orphanet J Rare Dis. eCollection 2022 Aug. See this image and copyright information in PMC. If you do, theyll be mild. 2023 Jan 1;15(1):e2023007. Beta thalassemia minor or thalassemia trait. Prevalence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in transfusion dependent and non-transfusion dependent -thalassemia patients and effects of associated comorbidities: an Iranian nationwide study. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that has become a global public health concern after being first reported in China and has subsequently spread worldwide. There are many types of thalassemia. Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time.". Scientists use + to indicate a gene mutation that lowers production and 0 to indicate a mutation that causes the gene to be absent. Treatment may include regular blood transfusions. 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. In many cases, alpha thalassemia may also need blood transfusions to manage. Med Hypotheses. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Strategies to enhance information sharing, Strategies to enhance information sharing between healthcare professionals and patients and their families, Patient pathways during the pandemic: general pathway (left panel) and transfusiondependent patient pathway, A proposed algorithm for the diagnosis of COVID19 in patients with haemoglobinopathies [Colour, MeSH That means getting vaccinated and boosted, social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and washing your hands regularly, among other things. Laboratory diagnosis of thalassemia. COVID-19. What Blood Tests Can Help Diagnose Sjgrens Syndrome? Should you get a COVID vaccine if you have beta thalassemia? Karimi M, Haghpanah S, Zarei T, et al. However, some limited evidence suggests that certain types of thalassemia may have some protective effect against COVID-19. Thalassaemia International Federation . Risk of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by transfusion: A literature review. A Practical Approach to the Management of Cancer Patients During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: An International Collaborative Group. A second dose of Pfizer or Moderna at least 4 weeks after 1st dose, less susceptibility to developing COVID-19, fewer intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, higher susceptibility to dying from COVID-19, surgery to remove your spleen or gallbladder. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. They result in low hemoglobin production and destruction of red blood cells. Its considered safer to wait to begin gene therapy or prepare for a stem-cell transplant for thalassemia in communities currently affected by COVID-19. Can Being Heterozygous for the Beta-Thalassemia Trait Affect Your Pregnancy? Newborn screening tests in the United States dont specifically check for thalassemia trait. Nicosia, Cyprus: Thalassaemia International Federation; 2017. If your doctor suspects your child has thalassemia, he or she can confirm a diagnosis with blood tests. (2022). Symptoms can range from none at all to severe anemia that requires frequent blood transfusions. They may not live a normal lifespan. Li J, et al. People with thalassemia trait dont usually have symptoms. Needs T, et al. Comparing serum ferritin levels during COVID-19 infection and recovery period in pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, a single-center study. Treatment is with corticosteroids. What's the Link Between ARDS and COVID-19? Most states offer religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements, and some provide exemptions on philosophical grounds. 2022 Oct;58(10):1760-1765. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16082. Front Med (Lausanne). Bender MA, et al. In that event, it's advisable that the therapy be stopped until the infection has cleared. Vaccination can help prevent COVID-19 infection and prevent severe illness if you do. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help people with beta thalassemia prevent severe disease and death. Accessibility April 21, 2020. More research is needed to, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. A Study Says These 4 Factors May Predict Persistent Symptoms, Journal of the American Medical Association, CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A comprehensive review of studies published in Seminars in Vascular Surgery in September 2021 examined peer-reviewed journal articles published from March 2020 to January 2021. If you have concerns, speak with a doctor or healthcare professional about your individual risks. Epidemiological Surveillance of SARSCov2 in -Thalassemia Patients in the Last Two Years: Reinfection Rate, Insights and Future Challenges. 2020;105(4):378-386.doi:10.1111/ejh.13476, Yadav U, Pal R. Challenging Times for Children With Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to the CDC, people shouldnt get vaccinated if they have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Beta thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which a child has anemia. Do people with thalassemia trait need treatment? About 1.5% of the worlds population carry HBB mutations that cause beta thalassemia. Whats the outlook for people who have beta thalassemia? (2022). Most hemoglobin is made up of alpha and beta chains. 2020;7:306.doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00306, Mungmunpuntipantip R, Wiwanitkit V. Hemoglobinopathy and COVID-19, Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Farmakis D, Giakoumis A, Angastiniotis M, Eleftheriou A. APS is an autoimmune disorder that makes your blood clot easily. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects your body's ability to produce hemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. The results align with the results of other studies from countries around the world. Thalassemia may increase the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19. It causes mild to severe respiratory illness with some flu-like symptoms. Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus . The first study, conducted by . The use of corticosteroid medications (such as prednisone) can have both positive and negative effects and must be carefully weighed in people with thalassemia. Aim: Low levels of immune-related micronutrients have been identified in -thalassemia samples. 2020;40(4):587-601.doi:10.1016/j.cll.2020.08.013, Hossain MS, Raheem E, Siddidqee MH. Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. Most people with beta thalassemia major have symptoms within the first 2 years of life. government site. Although epidemiologic evidence concerning the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in these patients is currently lacking, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant challenge for . 8600 Rockville Pike 2020 Oct;13(10):1081-1092. doi: 10.1080/17474086.2020.1819785. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Med Sci Monit Basic Res. Other types of thalassemia cause more severe symptoms that can be found earlier in life, usually before a child is . They agree that unless you have a very serious allergy to any of the vaccine ingredients, you should strongly consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine because some people with thalassemia have a higher chance of experiencing severe symptoms from COVID-19. You likely wont have symptoms or may have mild symptoms. (2022). Some genes contribute to the alpha chain, while others contribute to the beta chain. Experts are warning people that they may have an allergy to red meat if they develop these gastrointestinal symptoms. The allergy can develop after a, This inherited blood disorder usually requires vitamin supplement. One small study found that people with the thalassemia trait (carriers) were less likely to develop a COVID-19 infection or die from the disease. The clues have been mounting . Everybody except for 1 of the 16 people in the study required regular blood transfusions. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Ruangvutilert P, et al. If the mutation affects two genes, you have alpha-thalassemia minor. Quite a bit of research has been published about blood type and COVID-19 risk. 2020;15(1):265.doi:10.1186/s13023-020-01543-0, Piga A, Perrotta S, Gamberini MR, et al. Orphanet J Rare Dis. Thalassemia is classified as alpha or beta depending on the part of hemoglobin your body isnt producing in adequate amounts. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination for people with beta-thalassemia or . People with certain medical conditions, Prevalence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in transfusion dependent and non-transfusion dependent -thalassemia patients and effects of associated comorbidities: an Iranian nationwide study, Care of patients with hemoglobin disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of recommendations, Blood banking and transfusion medicine challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, The forgotten people with thalassemia in the time of COVID-19: South Asian perspective, Luspatercept improves hemoglobin levels and blood transfusion requirements in a study of patients with -thalassemia, A comprehensive review of hydroxyurea for -haemoglobinopathies: the role revisited during COVID-19 pandemic, FDA Approves First Cell-Based Gene Therapy to Treat Adult and Pediatric Patients with Beta-thalassemia Who Require Regular Blood Transfusions, Management of hemoglobin disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Could iron chelators prove to be useful as an adjunct to COVID-19 Treatment Regimens, Risk of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by transfusion: A literature review, Vitamin and mineral supplementation for -thalassemia during COVID-19 pandemic, A Southeast Asian perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic: hemoglobin E (HbE)-trait confers resistance against COVID-19, Beta-thalassemia may protect against COVID 19, SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta thalassemia: Preliminary data from the Italian experience, COVID-19 and thalassaemia: A position statement of the Thalassaemia International Federation, Challenging Times for Children With Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Reduced immune response: Excess iron can build up in regions of the body such as the. Read on to learn more about why its important for people with beta thalassemia to get vaccinated and why beta thalassemia may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Here, experts weigh in on what you really need to know. (2022). Impaired immune cell . Beta-thalassemia occurs when your body has trouble producing hemoglobin beta.
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