Who Is At Risk for Thalassemias?
Family history and ancestry are the two risk factors
for thalassemias.
Family History
Thalassemias are inherited, which means they're
passed on from parents to their children. If your parents have missing or
altered hemoglobin-making genes, you may have a thalassemia.
Ancestry
Alpha thalassemias most often affect people of
Southeast Asian, Indian, Chinese, or Filipino origin or ancestry.
Beta thalassemias most often affect people of
Mediterranean (Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern), Asian, or African origin or
ancestry. |