Reduced amounts of detectable beta globin causes beta-plus-thalassemia.
Clinically, beta-thalassemia is divided into thalassemia major which is transfusion dependent, thalassemia intermedia of intermediate severity , and thalassemia minor that is asymptomatic.
Chelators are small molecules that bind very tightly to metal ions.
Others are complex proteins made by living organisms e.
Subcutaneous desferrioxamine: the effect of three years' treatment on liver, iron, serum ferritin, and comments on echocardiography.
Since each unit of blood deposits about 230 mg of iron, most patients who require, for instance, 2 units of blood per month will have at most a very slightly negative iron balance with chelation therapy.