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Blood Disorders
Blood Disorders > Thalassemia
Thalassemia

Photo of familyThalassemia is a group of genetic blood disorders that affect approximately 1,000 individuals in the United States. The most severe of these disorders is Cooley's Anemia.

People with thalassemia have a genetic defect of their red blood cells that affects the cells' ability to produce normal hemoglobin. Red blood cells use hemoglobin to carry oxygen to tissues. As a result of the defect, most forms of thalassemia produce a chronic, lifelong anemia that begins in early childhood and often must be treated with frequent transfusions.

Prevention activities

CDC is developing a new program to

  • establish a surveillance system to monitor blood safety for thalassemia patients.

  • establish a network of specialized health-care centers to promote the management, treatment, and prevention of complications experienced by persons with thalassemia.

For more information

Locate a thalassemia care center

Organizations

Cooley's Anemia Foundation

Disclaimer: Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization webpages found at these links.


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Date: November 21, 2005
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

 

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