The Effects of Beta Thalassemia Traits

Beta thalassemia trait is a genetic disorder that causes you to have too few healthy red blood cells. If you have beta thalassemia trait, you may have a mild form of anemia that will make you feel fatigued. It is also possible that you may not experience any symptoms at all.

The Disorder

• Beta thalassemias are a group of blood disorders that are caused by defects in the beta globin gene. The gene encodes the beta chain of hemoglobin, the molecule that carries the oxygen in your red blood cells. Each hemoglobin molecule has two beta globin chains. With beta thalassemia trait, you will have one faulty chain and one healthy chain. Even if you don't exhibit symptoms, you may still be a "silent carrier," which means you can pass the disorder to your children.

Anemia

• A person diagnosed with beta thalassemia trait is not able to produce enough hemoglobin to carry all the oxygen his body needs. As a result, he may suffer from a mild form of anemia; it can be so mild, he may not realize he's anemic.

  Anemia caused by beta thalassemia is sometimes confused for iron deficiency anemia. Iron supplements will have little effect because the disorder is in the hemoglobin chain itself and not caused by a lack of iron.

Transmission

• The greatest risk of beta thalassemia trait is passing the genetic defect to your children. If your partner also has the trait, your child can inherit two defective copies of the beta globin gene. This can cause beta thalassemia intermedia or beta thalassemia major. People with beta thalassemia intermedia exhibit moderate anemia and complications, and may require blood transfusions several times a year to stay healthy. People with beta thalassemia major need blood transfusions to survive and can suffer life-threatening complications.

  Your children will not inherit the more severe forms of beta thalassemia if only one parent has the trait.