Hgb E/B 0 Thalassemia

What is Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia?

Hemoglobin is the protein in the blood that carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. Hemoglobin B and E are abnormal forms of hemoglobin. Is a red blood cell disorder found on the newborn screening by presence of fetal hemoglobin (F), hemoglobin E and the absence of hemoglobin A (normal Hemoglobin). Thalassemia is a medical condition in which the body makes less hemoglobin than usual. It causes anemia. When someone has both abnormal hemoglobin and thalassemia, one possibility is that they have Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia.

What causes Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia?

Hemoglobin E or B and thalassemia are genetic disorders. A person can get the disease when one parent has the gene for hemoglobin E or B, and the other has the gene for thalassemia, and each parents passes their gene along to the child.

What are the symptoms of Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia?

Possible symptoms of Hgb E/B + thalassemia include moderately severe anemia, jaundice, tiredness, weakness, pale skin, poor appetite, repeat infections, abdominal swelling (enlarged liver or spleen), and slow growth.

What are Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia care options?

People with Hgb E/B 0 thalassemia often require frequent blood transfusions in order to transport oxygen successfully throughout the body. Severely affected individuals require lifelong transfusion, splenectomy (removal of spleen) and treatment for iron overload.

Reviewed by: Athena Pefkarou, MD

This page was last updated on: May 22, 2023 10:42 AM