thalassaemia

Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy that originated in the Mediterranean region. The genetic defect causes a reduction in the rate of globin chain synthesis which causes the formation of abnormal hemoglobin molecules. The resultant microcytic anemia is the characteristic presenting symptom of the thalassemias.

Thalassemia is a quantitative problem of globin synthesis, whereas sickle cell disease is a qualitative problem of synthesis of an incorrectly functioning globin.

Pathology

Normal adult hemoglobin is composed of HbA (98%) and HbA2 (2%). HbA contains two α globin chains and two β globin chains, and HbA2 contains two α globin chains and two δ globin chains. They are arranged into a heterotetramer. Thalassemia patients produce a deficiency of either α or β globin, unlike sickle cell disease, which produces a specific mutant form of β globin.

The thalassemias are classified according to which chain of the hemoglobin molecule is affected. In α thalassemias, production of the α globin chain is reduced, while in β thalassemia production of the β globin chain is reduced.

The β globin chains are encoded by a single gene on chromosome 11; α globin chains are encoded by two closely linked genes on chromosome 16. Thus, in a normal person with two copies of each chromosome, there are two loci encoding the β chain, and four loci encoding the α chain. Deletion of one of the α loci has a high prevalence in people of African or Asian descent, making them more likely to develop α thalassemias. β thalassemias are common in Africans, but also in Greeks and Italians.

The thalassemia trait may confer a degree of protection against malaria, which confers a selective survival advantage on carriers.

Radiographic features

Skeletal

Marrow proliferation consists of an expansion of the medulla, thinning of cortical bone, and resorption of cancellous bone resulting in a generalized loss of bone density and yellow-to-red bone marrow reconversion.

  • skull: the occipital bone is spared, due to lack of hemopoietic bone marrow
  • facial bones
    • rodent or chipmunk facies
    • hypopneumatisation of the frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses, filled with marrow containing bone
      • the ethmoid sinuses are spared due to lack of red bone marrow
    • dental malocclusion
  • ribs: rib-within-a-rib appearance, noted particularly in the middle and anterior portions of the ribs
  • extremities: widening/expansion of the metacarpal and metatarsal shafts
  • Erlenmeyer flask deformity

  • premature fusion of the epiphyses
  • osteoporosis
  • extramedullary hematopoiesis
Gastrointestinal: hepatobiliary
Lung

History and etymology

Named for the Greek word for "sea" (θάλασσα - thálassa), as the condition is more prevalent in those living around the Mediterranean Sea e.g. Italians, Greeks, etc. Cooley and Lee described bone abnormalities and severe anemia with associated splenomegaly in 1921 .

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