Test 3: Thalassemias Flashcards
 genetically diverse group of disorders (Which may appear clinically similar) That are caused by decrease or absent production of globein chains
* defect lies in the rate of synthesis of the chains
Thalassemias
What is the difference between Hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias?
Hemoglobinopathies: Structural defect in glove and chain due to DNA mutation
Thalassemias: Defect lies in the RATE of synthesis
Where are thalassemias typically prevalent? 
High frequency all around the Mediterranean, throughout Middle East, India, and southeast Asia
Thalassa= Greek for “sea”
How many areas, follows the same geographic distribution as malaria
What is beta-gamma switch?
Gamma globin switches off, and beta globin switches on right before birth
Epsilon and Zaida are ___________only.
Embryonic
Globin chain that remains at constant levels starting in second trimester
Alpha globin
Globin chain that turns on right before birth
Beta globin
What is the exact nature of the molecular/cellular defect in thalassemia‘s?
Reduced or absent synthesis of one or more globin chains creating an imbalance of globin synthesis
 what is the first consequence of thalassemias?
The second?
Reduced production of functional hemoglobin tetramers.
Increase production of abnormal hemoglobin tetramers form the leftover unpaired globin chains.
Gamma4 =
Hgb Bart
Beta4 =
Hgb H
Alpha4 =
Too unstable to survive (Precipitates causing hemolytic anemia) 
Alpha thalassemia = defect in…
Alpha chain synthesis rate
Beta thalassemia = Defect in…
beta chain synthesis rate
“Thal major” (for both alpha and beta) = 
Homozygous
“Thal minor” (for both alpha and beta) =
Heterozygous
A2 is made up of?
What are the proportions? 
Two alpha and two delta
Newborn: <0.5
Adult: 2.5
What is A1 what up of?
What are the proportions?
Two alpha and two beta
Newborn: 20%
Adult: 97%
What is fetal (F) hemoglobin made of?
What are the proportions?
Two alpha and two gamma
Newborn: 80%
Adult: <1%

What is Gower II composed of?
Two alpha and two epsilon
Embryonic only 
What is Gower I composed of? 
Two Zata and two epsilon
embryonic only
What is Portland composed of?
Two zada and two gamma
embryonic only
What is seen on peripheral smear‘s with Thalassemias? 
Micro, hypo RBCs, worse in beta thalassemia‘s
Why are increased RBC counts seen with patients with thalassemias? 
To make up for chronic hypoxia, more RBCs but they are smaller which have less hemoglobin
(worse in beta thalassemia)
________-thalassemias have greater hemolytic anemia due to highly unstable tetramers. Increased RBC count with worse MCV and MHC.
Beta
In _______-thalassemia, defective chain production results in excess chain production in fetal in adult life. Involves a lack of hemoglobin synthesis and cells have a short lifespan and cannot carry oxygen effectively. 
Alpha
What determines the severity of alpha thalassemia? 
Genetic alterations cause one, two, three, or all four alpha genes
Severity ranges from only having one alpha gene deleted or suppressed to lethal with all four alpha genes deleted or suppressed
Two loci on chromosome ______ = Total of four alpha genes.
16
How is it denoted if one alpha gene is deleted?
(-a)
a+-Thal
How is it denoted if two alpha genes are deleted?
(- -)
a^0-Thal
With a decrease or absence of alpha chains, excess _____ and ______ chains accumulate to form tetramers.
Gamma, beta
-Hgb Bart (Gamma4)
-Hgb H (Beta4) 
Without alpha chains, hemoglobin _____ in fetus and hemoglobin ______ in infant are both affected, so symptoms of alpha thalassemia appear before birth and continue thereafter
F, A1
What is the worst case of alpha thalassemia?
Hgb Bart or Hydrops Fetalis (- -, - -) or Alpha-Thal major, Also known as homozygous alpha^0 Thalassemia
No alpha globin is produced, so Hgb Bart (Gamma4) is primary hemoglobin 
What is the prognosis for hemoglobin Bart (Hydrops fetalis)? 
Nonfunctional, so condition is lethal, infants usually grossly edematous due to onset of congestive heart failure early in gestation are commonly stillborn
Why does hemoglobin bart allow the fetus serve to survive until the third trimester? 
Due to hemoglobin Portland, and then dies of Anoxia
-Disease may trigger toxemia in mom during pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage later
What does hemoglobin Bart (- -, - -) show on electrophoresis?
Alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis shows 80% hemoglobin Bart, 20% hemoglobin Portland (Little or no hemoglobin H and no hemoglobin A1) 
How does a peripheral blood smear appear with hemoglobin Bart? 
The population is it commonly seen in?
Loaded with nRBC‘s
Southeast Agents, especially Filipinos
What are the five clinical Syndromes of alpha thalassemia?
- Hemoglobin Bart (- -, - -)
- Hemoglobin H disease (- -/-a)
- Hemoglobin H- Constant Spring disease (- -/a^cs a)
- Alpha-thalassemia minor (- -, aa or -a/-a)
- a-Thal Silent Carrier (-a /aa)
Caused by deletion of three out of four alpha globin chain genes
-Occurs AFTER Beta gamma switch
-Huge decrease in alpha chain synthesis means RBC makes mostly beta4 tetramers, hemoglobin H has increased oxygen affinity (x10 that of Hgb A)
-Symptomatic but not fatal
Hemoglobin H disease (- -/ - a)
Hgb H =
Beta4