Question

A man of Mediterranean ancestry goes to his doctor with the following symptoms. He is very tired all of the time. He has difficulty catching his breath after even mild exercise. His doctor orders the following tests: CBC, hematocrit, differential WBC count. The tests show immature erythrocytes, fragile erythrocytes, and less than 2 million RBCs per cubic millimeter. What would be a tentative diagnosis and suggested treatment?

Answer 1

Thalassemia may be defined as the inherited disorder in which the body produces the inappropriate content or abnormal hemoglobin. The red blood cells destroyed in the body and causes anemia.

The man fells tire all the time and finds difficulty in breathing. The test concludes that he has immature and fragile erythrocytes. This determines that he is diagnosed with thalassemia. The thalassemia can only be treated by the regular blood transfusion.