1 There are three types of thalassemia .They are Beta
Thalassemia and AlphaThalassemia and thalassemia minor.Beta
thalassemia is divided into thalassemia major (Cooleys Anemia) and
thalassemia intermedia
Cooley anaemia otherwise known as Thalassemia major
- thalassemia major has two genes for beta thalassemia and no
normal beta-chain gene .
- the child will be homozygous for beta thalassemia.
- They have evidence of microcytosis and increased levels of
hemoglobin A2.Haemoglobin F is sometimes elevated as well.
Thalassemia minor
- It is a less serious form of the disorder.
- in the alpha thalassemia atleast one of the alpha globin genes
has a mutation
- it has only one copy of the beta thalassemia gene.
- the person is said to be heterozygous for beta thalassemia
- Individuals with alpha thalassemia trait usually have evidence
of microcytosis and normal levels hemoglobin A2 and F.