title: Update on thalassemia: clinical care and complications.
abstract: beta-Thalassemia, originally named Cooley anemia, is an inherited blood disease. Various types of thalassemia are inherited anemias caused by mutations at the globin gene loci on chromosomes 16 and 11, affecting the production of alpha- or beta-globin protein, respectively. The combination of early diagnosis, improvements in monitoring for organ complications, and advances in supportive care have enabled many patients who have severe thalassemia syndromes to live productive, active lives well into adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Research Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan 7, Boston, MA 02115, USA. melody.cunningham@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Melody J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*