Alpha-thalassaemia

Patient education is an important part of management.

Patients should be informed of the risks and symptoms of acute exacerbations of haemolysis (jaundice, dark urine, weakness, fatigue, icterus), aplastic crises (severe fatigue, shortness of breath, pallor), cholelithiasis, splenomegaly, leg ulcers, and iron overload. If iron overload is present, the patient can be instructed to drink black tea with meals, which may help to minimise oral iron absorption.[118]Northern California Comprehensive Thalassemia Center. Standards of care guidelines for thalassemia. 2012 [internet publication]. https://thalassemia.com/SOC/index.aspx Patients attempting to conceive must undergo genetic counselling and appropriate testing, with particular attention to the risk of conceiving a child with alpha-thalassaemia major.