Alpha-thalassemia

Patient education is an important part of management.

Patients should be informed of the risks and symptoms of acute exacerbations of hemolysis (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 minimize oral iron absorption.[52]Northern California Comprehensive Thalassemia Center. Standards of care guidelines for thalassemia. 2012 [internet publication]. https://thalassemia.ucsf.edu/sites/g/files/tkssra7596/f/SOC-Guidelines-2012.pdf Patients attempting to conceive must undergo genetic counseling and appropriate testing, with particular attention to the risk of conceiving a child with alpha-thalassemia major.