Alpha Thalassemia Trait; Alpha Gene Number, 2) Or

Home , Anemia, Hemoglobin A, Sickle cell disease, Thalassemia

Inheritance Pattern for For more information

Alpha Tha lassemia Contact your local SCDAA organization or other Alpha health agency at: When each parent is a "silent" carrier of alpha Thalassemia thalassemia ( + / ) Trait their baby + may have +

Or contact the SCDAA National Office at the address and telephone number below. / (normal alpha gene number, 4) or

Stay connected with Get Connected the first patient powered registry + +

+ / + (alpha thalassemia trait; alpha gene number, 2) or

+ +

/ + (silent carrier of alpha thalassemia; Sickle Cell Disease alpha gene number, 3) Association of America, Inc. 3700 Kopper Street, Suite 570 Baltimore, MD 21227 Note: Alpha genes are inherited in pairs, one pair ( ) from each parent. A person with normal alpha genes has four ( / ). www.sicklecelldisease.org Alpha thalassemia may result in a total of 3, 2, 1 or 0 alpha genes. There are two common types of alpha thalassemia:

alpha-plus ( +) and alpha-zero( o ) ©2018 Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.; All YOUR QUESTIONS In + thalassemia, one of the 2 genes is removed (deleted) -; rights reserved. No portion of this material can be published and in o thalassemia, both a genes are deleted - -. In this without the owner’s express written consent. example we have shown alpha-plus ( +) thalassemia. ANSWERED I want to learn more...

ALPHA THAL TRAIT- WHAT DOES THAT HOW DOES A PERSON GET ALPHA THAL NOW, WHAT IS ALPHA THALASSEMIA? REALLY MEAN? TRAIT? The usual hemoglobin in our red blood cells is hemoglobin Alpha thal trait is a mild form of alpha thalasemia. In alpha A person gets or inherits alpha thal trait the same way he got A. Hemoglobin A is made of two types of globin alpha and thal trait there is enough alpha globin for normal health. the color of his eyes, the shape of his nose and the texture of beta. his hair. He got it through the genes that his mother and A person with alpha thal trait may have a little anemia. His In alpha thalassemia, not enough alpha globin is made in father passed on to him. Genes also tell the body what kind red blood cells might be a little small in size and look pale. the red blood cells. of blood to make. None of these things will make him sick at all.

DOES ALPHA THALASSEMIA TRAIT EVER Each person has two from each parent. If Alpha thal trait is very common in people from tropical and four alpha genes, MAKE A PERSON SICK? a person has only he has . sub-tropical parts of the world. two alpha genes alpha thal trait No. Alpha thalassemia trait, "alpha thal trait" for short, is not YOU SAY ALPHA THAL TRAIT IS NOT A He probably got one alpha gene from each parent, or an illness. A person with alpha thal trait is healthy. PROBLEM. THEN WHY ARE PEOPLE TESTED? perhaps he got two from one parent and none from the other. Either way, he ended up with two instead of four alpha His doctor may notice that his blood count is a little low and Teens and adults are tested mainly to see if they can have a genes. think that he needs iron to bring his blood count up. The iron baby with a serious hemoglobin disease. treatment will not help-and could hurt.

WHAT IS THALASSEMIA? Before he takes iron, he should have his blood iron level checked. If his iron level is low, it will be all right to take iron. Thalassemia is a disease of red blood cells. People with thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin. This results in red blood cells that are smaller in size, paler than normal IS THERE ANYTHING A PERSON WITH and anemia, or low blood count. ALPHA THAL TRAIT SHOULD DO?

There are mild, moderate and severe forms of thalassemia. In planning a family, it is wise for you to ask your partner to Alpha thal trait is a mild form of thalassemia. be tested. Everyone has two sets of genes for hemoglobin. One set is passed on to the baby from each parent. CAN ALPHA THAL TRAIT EVER TURN INTO SEVERE THALASSEMIA? Only if both partners are tested can they know exactly what kind of hemoglobin conditions their children could have. They should look carefully at the inheritance pattern for the *Never. A person's hemoglobin types are his for life. They WHAT EXACTLY IS HEMOGLOBIN? possibilities of having a child with alpha thalassemia. do not change. Hemoglobin is inside the red blood cells. It helps them carry A counselor can tell them if any of their future children could oxygen from the air in our lungs to all parts of the body. have severe alpha thalasemmia. IF SOMEONE HAS ALPHA THAL TRAIT, CAN Hemoglobin also gives blood its deep red color. HE HAVE A CHILD WITH SEVERE THALASSEMIA? Hemoglobin is made up of two parts: Proteins called globin, and iron chemicals called heme *Alpha thal trait is found equally in both males and females. To Yes. He can, but only if his partner has a special type of make this easy to read, we have used he, his and him in this alpha thalassemia. Heme + Globin = Hemoglobin pamphlet. In other pamphlets we have used she and her.