Publication: Haemoglobin E β thalassaemia in Sri Lanka
Issued Date
2005-10-22
Resource Type
ISSN
01406736
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-26944485129
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Lancet. Vol.366, No.9495 (2005), 1467-1470
Suggested Citation
A. Premawardhena, C. A. Fisher, N. F. Olivieri, S. De Silva, M. Arambepola, W. Perera, A. O'Donnell, T. E.A. Peto, V. Viprakasit, L. Merson, G. Muraca, D. J. Weatherall Haemoglobin E β thalassaemia in Sri Lanka. Lancet. Vol.366, No.9495 (2005), 1467-1470. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67396-5 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/16779
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Title
Haemoglobin E β thalassaemia in Sri Lanka
Abstract
Haemoglobin E β thalassaemia is the commonest form of severe thalassaemia in many Asian countries, but little is known about its natural history, the reasons for clinical diversity, or its management. We studied 109 Sri Lankan patients with the disorder over 5 years. 25 patients were not receiving transfusion; transfusion was stopped with no deleterious effect in a further 37. We identified several genetic and environmental factors that might contribute to the phenotypic diversity of the disorder, including modifiers of haemoglobin F production, malaria, and age-related changes in adaptive function. Our findings suggest that haemoglobin E β thalassaemia can be managed without transfusion in many patients, even with low haemoglobin levels. Age-related changes in the pattern of adaptation to anaemia suggest that different and more cost-effective approaches to management should be explored.