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will be born with a serious blood disorder that In its most severe form, this may
cause beta thalassemia major or
requires lifelong blood transfusions and drug
Cooleys anemia, a severe blood
treatments.
disorder that causes a life-threatening
anemia that requires regular blood
Second, some doctors may mistake beta both parents carry the beta thalassemia trait, transfusions and extensive ongoing
thalassemia trait for another condition and medical care.
prescribe the wrong treatment for you.
The inheritance of two abnormal
beta globin genes may also
Finding out if you have beta cause beta thalassemia
intermedia, a moderately
thalassemia trait is easy. 25% 50% 25%
Cooleys anemia
severe anemia with
significant health
The first step to finding out if you have the beta problems including
thalassemia trait is to ask your doctor to look at the bone deformities
and enlargement
size of your red blood cells. This is shown by the of the spleen.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) of your Complete
Blood Count (CBC). Your doctor may already have
a record of your CBC on file.
If your MCV reading is 80 or lower, and you are normal beta thal
hemoglobin trait
NOT iron deficient, you may have beta thalassemia
trait. Additional testing, including a hemoglobin
electrophoresis, quantitative hemoglobin A2 and
For more information about thalassemia, please contact:
quantitative hemoglobin F, will be necessary to
Cooleys Anemia Foundation at (212) 279-8090 If you and your spouse both carry beta
determine if you have beta thalassemia trait.
or info@thalassemia.org thalassemia trait and plan to have children, you
These tests can be ordered by your doctor.
You can also visit our web site at www.thalassemia.org should seek the advice of a genetic counselor.